Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has launched a drive to increase voter registration in Western Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election, targeting at least 3.4 million registered voters by January 2027.
Mudavadi said he would rally leaders and residents across the region to work with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to intensify voter registration.
The initiative will focus on Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia and Trans Nzoia counties, which Mudavadi said needed to increase their voter numbers to strengthen the region’s political influence.
“Siasa ni numbers (politics is about numbers). When we highlight Kakamega County as a critical voter bloc in Western Kenya for example, we are lagging behind Nairobi and Kiambu in national voter registration. We must pull up our socks,” Mudavadi said.
According to figures cited by Mudavadi, Western Kenya currently has about 2.9 million registered voters, leaving a gap of roughly 500,000 voters to reach the targeted 3.4 million.
“Currently as a region we are at around 2.9 million registered voters meaning that we still have to work to close the 500,000 votes projection gap for us to boast of the numbers. This target will help broaden the margin to give President Ruto a two-term that is petition free,” he added.
Mudavadi cited IEBC statistics showing that Kakamega has more than 952,000 registered voters, while Bungoma has about 720,000.
Busia has approximately 456,000 registered voters, followed by Vihiga with about 334,000, according to figures up to July 2026 cited by the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
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Trans Nzoia has an additional 445,000 registered voters.
Mudavadi said the numbers needed to improve across all the targeted counties if Western Kenya is to strengthen its position ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Let us start there, then move forward since we are not doing well in voter registration compared to other regions,” he said.
He urged political leaders to work closely with IEBC officials during grassroots meetings to facilitate voter registration.
“Elections are won at the ballot. At all our political gatherings especially at the grassroots, we want to liase with IEBC officials so that they can be there to register voters because we want to promote enhanced voter registration,” Mudavadi said.
Magharibi Movement
Mudavadi spoke during the launch of the Magharibi Movement Initiative, a lobby group seeking to mobilise Western Kenya in support of President Ruto’s administration and his re-election bid.
He said although the movement has a political objective ahead of the 2027 elections, its agenda would extend beyond the polls to address development and welfare issues affecting residents of the region.
“True, there is a target for 2027, but we want to go beyond that,” Mudavadi said.
The Prime CS said the movement would provide a platform for residents to engage on development, political representation and other issues affecting Western Kenya.
He identified increased voter registration as one of the movement’s major priorities, arguing that political influence ultimately depends on the number of registered voters who turn out to cast their ballots.
Relying on Political Slogans
Mudavadi also cautioned supporters against relying on political slogans and large crowds, saying elections are ultimately determined by votes cast at polling stations.
“Elections shall not be won by slogans. Slogans do not vote and do not win elections. It is all about going to the polling station and casting the ballot paper into that ballot box. That is a target that we must achieve,” he said.
He challenged members of the Magharibi Movement to begin the voter registration drive within their own households by identifying young people who have acquired national identity cards but have not registered as voters.
“In this lobby group, one of our missions is to find, starting from your own house, how many of your children who have ID cards and have not yet registered to vote in 2027,” Mudavadi said.
The launch came a day after Mudavadi met the four Western Kenya governors, with the leaders agreeing to work together and pursue common interests affecting the region.
The leaders also agreed to mobilize grassroots support and consolidate the region behind the Kenya Kwanza administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
