Kisumu: Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials in Kisumu have stepped up efforts to register new voters as part of the preparations for the 2027 General Elections. Kisumu County IEBC Coordinator, Mr. Solomon Mudanya, announced that his teams in the seven constituencies of the County are working diligently to ensure improved voter registration results during the second week of the continuous voter registration.
According to Kenya News Agency, the new IEBC commissioners, who took the Oath of Office in July under the leadership of Chair Erastus Edung Ethekon, initiated the continuous voter registration in Kajiado on September 29. The registration drive is being conducted across all 290 constituencies, supplemented by 57 Huduma Centres to enhance accessibility. Voter transfers and corrections are being managed in constituency offices.
The IEBC has set a target of registering 28.5 million voters by 2027, adopting a phased approach to achieve this goal. They aim to register 10 per cent of the target during the current exercise, 40 per cent following the November 27 by-elections, and the remaining 50 per cent in the next Financial Year. The initial week of the exercise saw only 7,048 new voters registered, with Kisumu County contributing 139 new registrations.
Mr. Mudanya expressed optimism that the recruitment of temporary registration clerks and other poll officials would enhance the voter registration process by bringing registration centers closer to the grassroots. The IEBC has advertised ten temporary positions, with applications closing on October 16, in preparation for the upcoming by-elections on November 27.
The by-elections will cover 16 Members of County Assemblies in various wards across Samburu, Nandi, Tana River, Garissa, Nairobi City, Kakamega, Elgeyo Marakwet, Machakos, Narok, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, Bungoma, and Turkana Counties. Additionally, elections are scheduled for the Baringo County Senate position and Members of the National Assembly for Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja.
According to the IEBC 2022 voter register, Kisumu County had 602,350 registered voters and 1,165 polling stations. The IEBC aims to register 6.3 million new voters before the 2027 elections and is urging young people with new Identity Cards (IDs) to participate in the registration process.