IEBC Unveils Digital Pre-Registration System to Boost Youth Participation Ahead of 2027 Elections

Speaking at a prayer breakfast meeting organized by religious leaders on Wednesday, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon explained that the upcoming system will allow prospective voters—particularly the youth—to complete most of the registration process online from the comfort of their homes or phones.

"We are introducing a digital platform where you have a link, a pre-registration form, you can fill all your details and all you need to do is walk into the nearest Huduma or registration center and give your fingerprints," Ethekon stated.

Under the proposed setup, individuals will access a secure online link to submit personal information and required documents digitally. Only the biometric verification step—primarily fingerprint capture—will require a physical visit to an approved registration point, such as Huduma centers or IEBC offices. This hybrid approach is designed to reduce time spent queuing and make the process more convenient for tech-savvy young people who often find traditional in-person registration cumbersome.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to ramp up voter registration as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election. The IEBC is targeting the registration of approximately 6.3 million new voters, including those who have recently turned 18 and others who remain unregistered. The commission currently has about 22.1 million registered voters and aims to reach 28.4 million by the next polls.

Mass voter registration is scheduled to begin in March, with the first phase of the ongoing exercise already adding around 200,000 new names to the roll. The digital tool is expected to play a key role in attracting more youth, who have historically shown lower turnout in registration drives.

However, Ethekon highlighted significant hurdles, particularly funding constraints. He noted that limited budgets are hampering mobilization efforts, especially in reaching young people and vulnerable groups in areas with poor digital access. "Without these budgets we will be incapacitated to reach out to these young people, vulnerable persons and places without the digital media," he warned.

The chairperson also appealed to faith leaders, the media, and other stakeholders to support the commission's goal of delivering Kenya's most credible and inclusive election in 2027. Additional plans include expanding registration centers to every village and intensifying grassroots campaigns.

The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns over electoral funding, after Parliament recently cut the IEBC's requested budget for election preparations. Despite these challenges, the commission remains committed to building a clean, accurate, and representative voter register that reflects the true number of eligible citizens.

This digital-first strategy marks a significant step toward modernizing Kenya's electoral process and empowering the youth to actively shape the country's political future.