The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has revealed that Kenya’s voter registration drive has recorded significant gains nationally, but regional disparities persist, with North Eastern counties trailing behind
According to IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana, the commission has so far registered 250,391 new voters, with the majority of enrollments concentrated in urban and peri-urban areas.
“As of today, we have registered 250,391 new voters. The new enrollments are principally in the urban areas and the peri-urban areas; Nairobi is leading, followed by Kiambu, Machakos, Nakuru, and Mombasa,” said Mukhwana.
However, the commissioner expressed concern over the slow pace of registration in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in Isiolo County, Mandera County, and Tana River County, which he described as “almost stagnant.”
“Regrettably, the arid areas continue to perform dismally… that is because of the lower population density,” he noted, highlighting structural challenges that continue to hinder voter mobilisation in these regions.
The data also points to a worrying trend among young people, who make up a critical voting bloc. While individuals aged 35 and below account for 32.65 per cent of the newly registered voters, participation among younger voters remains particularly low.
“Youth engagement remains low… 18–20-year-olds are the worst hit. There is low motivation or awareness, which means we need to have civic education,” Mukhwana added.
The commission now faces mounting pressure to intensify civic education and outreach efforts, especially in marginalised and sparsely populated regions, to ensure more equitable voter participation ahead of future electoral processes.
Observers note that without targeted interventions in North Eastern Kenya, the region risks continued underrepresentation in national electoral exercises, despite ongoing nationwide registration gains.