IEBC Refuses to Extend Voter Registration as One Week Remains Before Deadline

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has ruled out extending the ongoing voter registration exercise, insisting that Kenyans must register within the final seven days. The commission says the deadline remains fixed and will not be changed.

The Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise is set to end on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. After this, voter registration will only be available at IEBC offices and Huduma Centres until May 2027, ahead of the August 2027 General Election.

IEBC reports that 1.37 million new voters have already been added to the register since the exercise began. Nairobi County leads with about 150,000 new registrations, showing strong participation in urban areas.

Despite these numbers, officials say the national target is still not fully achieved. IEBC Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan emphasized that there will be no extra time for the exercise.

“We are not giving extra time… seven days are there, Kenyans have an opportunity within these seven days to register themselves,” he said. He added that registration services have been brought closer to citizens through constituency offices and Huduma Centres.

The commission is urging all eligible Kenyans to take advantage of the remaining days to avoid missing out on voting rights in the next election cycle. Officials say early registration is key to ensuring a complete and accurate voter register.

However, challenges continue to affect turnout in some regions. County Election Manager William Ndung’u pointed to delays in issuing national identity cards as one of the main barriers. He also noted that insecurity in parts of Igembe and Tigania is affecting access to registration points.

“Hatukosi changamoto hapa na pale,” Ndung’u said, explaining that some residents are still waiting for their IDs before they can register.

IEBC has maintained that the deadline will not be extended under any circumstances. The commission says it is now focusing on maximizing turnout during the remaining days to strengthen voter participation ahead of the 2027 elections.