A section of Kenyans has expressed frustration on social media after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) removed polling station details from its online voter verification portal.
A spot check by The Kenya Times shows that the section, which previously displayed data based on the voter’s registration details, now displays “N/A.”
Prior to the changes, the portal showed voters’ details, including the polling station name (which was similar to the polling station centre) and the polling station stream number.
A section of Kenyans has expressed frustration on social media after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) removed polling station details from its online voter verification portal, leaving many users seeing “N/A” where the information previously appeared.
Mixed Reactions as IEBC Removes Polling Station Names and Stream Numbers from Voter Records
The changes have sparked mixed reactions online, with users demanding answers from the commission.
Tuko Kadi movement leader Ademba Allans (@AdembaAllans) highlighted the issue on his X account, posting a screenshot showing that polling station details are missing despite his registration status.
“IEBC, unless mnataka vita, please explain to me: Mbona sina polling station na polling station number? Na pia, if those who registered before 2012 voted in 2022, why do they need to register again?” he posed.
Another user, Rapcha (@IAMRAPCHA), shared two screenshots—one with full voter details and another with missing information—writing: “Yesterday I went to bed as a registered voter. Today I woke up not registered to vote, and the IEBC says it’s my fault and that I need to register again. They didn’t explain what happened to the data they have.”
His post reignited reactions, with users flooding the comment section with similar complaints.
User Mcodhiambo Sirda (@McodhiamboSirda) chimed in, saying: “Just verified my details, no polling station name and stream number. This needs to be addressed ASAP.”
Meanwhile, Oteyo Akhwaba (@OteyoAkhwaba) tagged the commission while sharing two screenshots—one with full details and another with omissions—stating: “@IEBCKenya You have now deleted my polling station. Something fishy is going on at the commission. #lindakura.”
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On his part, Bryce Eric (@Bryceeric) claimed the move could be deliberate, alleging: “This is just a smokescreen! We demand all the details because we want to know the voters per polling station.”
However, some users clarified the issue. Khim Mwachssmo (@Khim_mwachssmo) explained that a polling center can have multiple polling stations. Since the register is not finalized, assigning exact stations and stream numbers is difficult. “If the polling centre is right, there should be no cause for alarm for now,” he said.
Muriaso (@muriaso) explained: “People confuse polling centers and stations. A polling center is the building; a polling station is the specific room or stream where you vote.” He added that a polling station typically serves up to 700 voters.
Similarly, Phia Max (@PHIAMAX) reassured users that their data is not missing, attributing the issue to the ongoing voter registration exercise. “The missing stream info is due to the ongoing mass voter registration and updates to the register. Streams can’t be finalized until registration is complete,” the user noted.
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IEBC Says Pre-2012 Voters Must Register Afresh
This follows an announcement by IEBC on Friday, April 3, directing all Kenyans who registered before the 2012 election to register afresh to ensure their details are captured in the current biometric system.
In a detailed status update on the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) issued on Friday, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon explained that the current biometric Register of Voters (RoV) was introduced in 2012 following major electoral reforms, and voters who registered before November 2012 were not fully included in the system and therefore need to be recaptured to complete their biometric records.
Ethekon said the fresh registration exercise does not affect those who registered between 2012 and 2026, noting that such voters remain in the system and do not need to register again.
The ECVR exercise, launched on March 30 and running until April 28 across 1,450 wards, has so far registered 344,316 new voters, 18,610 transfers, and 329 updates as of April 2.
