The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has formally refuted claims that its new chairperson, Erastus Edung, announced the registration of over 3.5 million new voters from Kenya’s North Eastern region.
Through a statement on its official page, the IEBC labelled a viral TikTok post alleging that "Edung has announced that more than 3.5 million people will be registered following key reforms in immigration laws" as fake and misleading.
The false report triggered accusations of electoral malpractice against the commission, just two years ahead of the scheduled 2027 general elections.
Official records from the IEBC’s 2022 roll indicate that the North Eastern counties, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, and Isiolo, collectively account for a significant voter base: Garissa with 201,473, Wajir 207,758, Mandera 217,030, Marsabit 166,912, and Isiolo 89,504 registered voters.
This contradicts the TikTok post’s claim of a 3.5 million voter surge in the region.
In related political developments, President William Ruto issued a directive in February to abolish the extra vetting that had been required for residents in North Eastern counties, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, Marsabit, and Tana River, before obtaining national ID cards.
Residents widely welcomed the proclamation in the region, feeling relief and justice after decades of marginalization.