The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has registered 250,391 new voters since the rollout of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise on September 29 last year.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s The Explainer on Tuesday night, IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana said the majority of new registrations have been recorded in urban and peri-urban areas, with Nairobi leading.
Counties such as Kiambu County, Machakos County, Nakuru County and Mombasa County also recorded strong numbers, reflecting how population density and access to services continue to influence voter registration trends.
However, Dr. Mukhwana raised concern over persistently low voter registration in arid and semi-arid regions. Counties including Isiolo, Mandera and Tana River remain significantly behind.
He attributed the disparity to sparse populations, nomadic lifestyles driven by harsh climatic conditions, and limited access to identification documents.
“There are also the issues of whether they get their ID cards in time. There are cases in Turkana County, for example where elderly people don’t have birth certificates, let alone IDs,” he said.
Youth participation in the exercise remains notably low. According to the commissioner, only 32.65% of newly registered voters are aged 35 and below, with just 67,888 falling within the 18-20 age bracket.
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Dr. Mukhwana cited delays in acquiring national identification cards after leaving school and limited civic awareness as key barriers affecting young voters.
He called for the introduction of early civic education in schools to better prepare young people to register once they become eligible.
Kenya’s total number of registered voters now stands at 22,352,923 as of 2026. Of the newly registered voters, 50.9% are male, while 49.1% are female, reflecting a near gender balance.
In terms of county performance, Nairobi leads with 49,055 new voters, followed by Kiambu with 20,404. Together, the two counties account for 27% of all new registrations.
Mombasa recorded 15,140 new voters, followed by Machakos (11,687). Nakuru (10,432), Kitui County (9,401), Kisii County (8,871), Kakamega County (8,078), Meru County (7,499) and Murangá County (7,267).
At the lowest end, Isiolo registered just 112 voters, Tana River 241, Lamu County 578, Elgeyo Marakwet County 552 and Mandera 994.
Dr. Mukhwana further noted that older voters dominate the new registrations, with those aged above 35 accounting for 67.35%, compared to 32.65% among younger voters.
The trend, he warned, raises concerns about long-term electoral participation if youth engagement is not urgently addressed.
