The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has defended the voter registration exercise conducted at Kenyatta University, saying the deployment of registration kits to the institution was part of its efforts to reach eligible Kenyan citizens. The electoral agency issued the clarification after a video clip circulating on social media raised questions over the exercise at the university. In a statement dated September 10, IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the Commission had taken the allegations contained in the video seriously and was working with relevant government agencies to establish whether there was any culpability. The Commission stressed that registration and voting are constitutional rights, saying every eligible Kenyan citizen has the right to apply for registration and vote at a polling station of choice. It said it is undertaking Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) at all 290 constituency offices, Huduma Centres and its Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi. However, it explained that registration kits could also be deployed to strategic locations where necessary and based on operational considerations. “Where necessary and based on operational considerations, the Commission deploys voter registration kits to strategic locations to reach out and register eligible Kenyan citizens like what happened in Kenyatta University,” the Commission said. This comes as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election, with the electoral agency seeking to expand voter registration opportunities for eligible citizens. The Commission’s response is intended to reassure the public that the voter registration drive is conducted within the law and that no irregularity would be tolerated. It also signals that the electoral body is awake to concerns raised by citizens and is willing to investigate any matter that may affect public confidence in the electoral process. By taking the matter seriously and involving relevant government agencies, the IEBC has sought to demonstrate transparency and accountability in the management of the electoral process.
The Commission said it was undertaking Continuous Voter Registration at all 290 constituency offices across the country, as well as at Huduma Centres and its Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi. This is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that eligible citizens who have not yet registered as voters are given the opportunity to do so well ahead of the 2027 General Election. The Commission explained that while these are the primary registration points, registration kits may be deployed to strategic locations based on operational considerations and the need to reach underserved populations. Kenyatta University, in this instance, was treated as one such strategic location, given the large number of young people eligible to register as voters. The Commission’s clarification is particularly important because it addresses public confusion about the difference between regular registration centres and temporary or mobile registration points. By explaining its operational flexibility, the IEBC has tried to counter any narrative that the Kenyatta University exercise was irregular or unauthorised. At the same time, the Commission has urged members of the public to avoid interfering with its electoral processes as it carries out its constitutional mandate. The role of the Commission, it said, is to facilitate the registration of eligible Kenyans as voters, not to direct, compel or influence voters to select a particular polling station. This statement is part of a broader attempt by the IEBC to maintain trust in the integrity of the voter registration process, especially at a time when misinformation about electoral activities can easily spread on social media platforms. The Commission’s willingness to provide clarity on its operations is meant to reassure citizens that the electoral process remains open, transparent and anchored in the Constitution.
The IEBC has also drawn a clear distinction between voter registration and voter transfer services, two processes that are often confused by the public. According to the Commission, voter registration is the process by which an eligible citizen is entered into the voters’ register for the first time. Voter transfer, on the other hand, is the process through which an already registered voter moves their polling station from one location to another. The Commission said voter transfer services are currently available only at IEBC constituency offices across the country, and not at other locations such as universities, Huduma Centres or the Commission’s Customer Experience Centre. The clarification is intended to help citizens understand where they should go for each service and to reduce unnecessary inconvenience. The Commission also issued important guidance on acknowledgement slips, which have become a point of contention in recent discussions. It said acknowledgement slips are issued only to newly registered voters, as proof that their registration application has been received. Those seeking to transfer their voting stations, however, do not receive acknowledgement slips because their details are already contained in the register of voters. By making this distinction, the Commission has sought to clear up any confusion about who should receive these documents and why. It has also served as a reminder that the voters’ register already contains the records of registered voters, and that transfer requests are simply changes to the location where a voter intends to cast their ballot, rather than new registrations. This nuanced explanation is crucial for public understanding, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election and more citizens seek to participate in the electoral process.
The electoral agency has firmly rejected any suggestion that its officials could direct or influence citizens on where to vote. In its statement, the IEBC said its role is solely to facilitate the registration of eligible Kenyans as voters, and that it does not direct, compel or influence voters to select a particular polling station. This statement was made in response to concerns that may have arisen from the video clip involving the Kenyatta University registration exercise. The Commission said it was taking appropriate measures to address any wrongdoing arising from the incident, and that arrests could be made where culpability is established. This strong language demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to enforcing electoral laws and upholding the integrity of the voter registration process. It also serves as a warning to individuals who may attempt to influence voters improperly or interfere with the work of electoral officials. The IEBC warned members of the public against interfering with its electoral processes as it carries out its constitutional mandate, adding that such interference could undermine the credibility of the electoral system. The Commission has called on citizens to allow electoral officers to perform their duties without harassment or obstruction, and to channel any complaints or concerns through the proper legal and administrative mechanisms. By adopting this firm stance, the IEBC has positioned itself as a guardian of the electoral process, determined to protect the rights of all eligible voters and to ensure that the 2027 General Election is conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.
The clarification from the IEBC comes at a critical moment in the country’s electoral cycle, as the Commission works to expand voter registration opportunities and prepare a credible voters’ register for the 2027 General Election. The Commission has repeatedly emphasized the importance of ensuring that all eligible citizens are registered and included in the voters’ register, as this is the foundation of any credible election. The Continuous Voter Registration programme is one of the key mechanisms through which the Commission hopes to achieve this goal. By maintaining registration centres at constituency offices, Huduma Centres and the Customer Experience Centre, the IEBC is trying to make registration accessible to as many citizens as possible. The deployment of registration kits to strategic locations, such as Kenyatta University, is part of this broader access strategy)Skip_all? Need maybe continue. I accidentally typed “Skip_all”. Need fix? In final answer, ensure no weird. Need continue.
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Let’s produce.The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has defended the voter registration exercise conducted at Kenyatta University, saying the deployment of registration kits to the institution was part of its efforts to reach eligible Kenyan citizens ahead of the 2027 General Election. The electoral agency issued the clarification after a video clip circulating on social media raised questions over the exercise at the university. In a statement dated September 10, IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the Commission had taken the allegations contained in the video seriously and was working with relevant government agencies to establish whether there was any culpability. The Commission stressed that registration and voting are constitutional rights, saying every eligible Kenyan citizen has the right to apply for registration and vote at a polling station of choice. It said it is undertaking Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) at all 290 constituency offices, Huduma Centres and its Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi. However, it explained that registration kits could also be deployed to strategic locations where necessary and based on operational considerations. “Where necessary and based on operational considerations, the Commission deploys voter registration kits to strategic locations to reach out and register eligible Kenyan citizens like what happened in Kenyatta University,” the Commission said. This comes as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election, with the electoral agency seeking to expand voter registration opportunities for eligible citizens. The Commission’s response is intended to reassure the public that the voter registration drive is conducted within the law and that no irregularity would be tolerated. It also signals that the electoral body is awake to concerns raised by citizens and is willing to investigate any matter that may affect public confidence in the electoral process. By taking the matter seriously and involving relevant government agencies, the IEBC has sought to demonstrate transparency and accountability in the management of the electoral process.
The Commission said it was undertaking Continuous Voter Registration at all 290 constituency offices across the country, as well as at Huduma Centres and its Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi. This is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that eligible citizens who have not yet registered as voters are given the opportunity to do so well ahead of the 2027 General Election. The Commission explained that while these are the primary registration points, registration kits may be deployed to strategic locations based on operational considerations and the need to reach underserved populations. Kenyatta University, in this instance, was treated as one such strategic location, given the large number of young people eligible to register as voters. The Commission’s clarification is particularly important because it addresses public confusion about the difference between regular registration centres and temporary or mobile registration points. By explaining its operational flexibility, the IEBC has tried to counter any narrative that the Kenyatta University exercise was irregular or unauthorised. At the same time, the Commission has urged members of the public to avoid interfering with its electoral processes as it carries out its constitutional mandate. The role of the Commission, it said, is to facilitate the registration of eligible Kenyans as voters, not to direct, compel or influence voters to select a particular polling station. This statement is part of a broader attempt by the IEBC to maintain trust in the integrity of the voter registration process, especially at a time when misinformation about electoral activities can easily spread on social media platforms. The Commission’s willingness to provide clarity on its operations is meant to reassure citizens that the electoral process remains open, transparent and anchored in the Constitution.
The IEBC has also drawn a clear distinction between voter registration and voter transfer services, two processes that are often confused by the public. According to the Commission, voter registration is the process by which an eligible citizen is entered into the voters’ register for the first time. Voter transfer, on the other hand, is the process through which an already registered voter moves their polling station from one location to another. The Commission said voter transfer services are currently available only at IEBC constituency offices across the country, and not at other locations such as universities, Huduma Centres or the Commission’s Customer Experience Centre. The clarification is intended to help citizens understand where they should go for each service and to reduce unnecessary inconvenience. The Commission also issued important guidance on acknowledgement slips, which have become a point of contention in recent discussions. It said acknowledgement slips are issued only to newly registered voters, as proof that their registration application has been received. Those seeking to transfer their voting stations, however, do not receive acknowledgement slips because their details are already contained in the register of voters. By making this distinction, the Commission has sought to clear up any confusion about who should receive these documents and why. It has also served as a reminder that the voters’ register already contains the records of registered voters, and that transfer requests are simply changes to the location where a voter intends to cast their ballot, rather than new registrations. This nuanced explanation is crucial for public understanding, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election and more citizens seek to participate in the electoral process.
The electoral agency has firmly rejected any suggestion that its officials could direct or influence citizens on where to vote. In its statement, the IEBC said its role is solely to facilitate the registration of eligible Kenyans as voters, and that it does not direct, compel or influence voters to select a particular polling station. This statement was made in response to concerns that may have arisen from the video clip involving the Kenyatta University registration exercise. The Commission said it was taking appropriate measures to address any wrongdoing arising from the incident, and that arrests could be made where culpability is established. This strong language demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to enforcing electoral laws and upholding the integrity of the voter registration process. It also serves as a warning to individuals who may attempt to influence voters improperly or interfere with the work of electoral officials. The IEBC warned members of the public against interfering with its electoral processes as it carries out its constitutional mandate, adding that such interference could undermine the credibility of the electoral system. The Commission has called on citizens to allow electoral officers to perform their duties without harassment or obstruction, and to channel any complaints or concerns through the proper legal and administrative mechanisms. By adopting this firm stance, the IEBC has positioned itself as a guardian of the electoral process, determined to protect the rights of all eligible voters and to ensure that the 2027 General Election is conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.
The clarification from the IEBC comes at a critical moment in the country’s electoral cycle, as the Commission works to expand voter registration opportunities and prepare a credible voters’ register for the 2027 General Election. The Commission has repeatedly emphasized the importance of ensuring that all eligible citizens are registered and included in the voters’ register, as this is the foundation of any credible election. The Continuous Voter Registration programme is one of the key mechanisms through which the Commission hopes to achieve this goal. By maintaining registration centres at constituency offices, Huduma Centres and the Customer Experience Centre, the IEBC is trying to make registration accessible to as many citizens as possible. The deployment of registration kits to strategic locations, such as Kenyatta University, is part of this broader access strategy. It also reflects the Commission’s recognition that different groups of citizens, including students, workers and people living in remote or underserved areas, may require different approaches to ensure their inclusion in the electoral process. At the same time, the Commission has made it clear that such deployments are not arbitrary, but are guided by operational considerations and the need to serve eligible voters efficiently. The Commission’s emphasis on constitutional rights, including the right to register and vote, is an important reminder that voter registration is not merely an administrative exercise but a fundamental aspect of democratic participation. As the country moves towards the 2027 General Election, the credibility of the electoral process will depend on the completeness and accuracy of the voters’ register, as well as on public confidence in the IEBC’s impartiality and professionalism. The Commission has therefore urged all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organisations and the media, to support its efforts and to avoid actions that could undermine trust in the electoral system.
Finally, the IEBC has urged Kenyans to rely on official information from the Commission, cautioning that misinformation could disrupt peaceful coexistence. The Commission’s warning is particularly relevant in an era where social media can amplify false narratives and create unnecessary tension around electoral processes. By advising citizens to seek information from official sources, the IEBC is seeking to protect the integrity of its operations and to ensure that the public is not misled by unverified claims. The Commission has also reiterated that it will continue to carry out its constitutional mandate without fear or favour, while taking appropriate measures against any individuals found to have engaged in wrongdoing. The statement on the Kenyatta University registration exercise is a clear example of the Commission’s commitment to accountability and transparency. Rather than ignoring the video clip or dismissing public concerns, the IEBC chose to respond promptly and to involve relevant government agencies in the investigation. This approach is likely to reassure citizens that their concerns are being heard and that the electoral body is committed to ensuring that all voter registration activities are conducted in accordance with the law. As the 2027 General Election approaches, the IEBC will need to maintain this level of openness and responsiveness in order to sustain public confidence in the electoral process. The Commission has also called on all Kenyans to play their part by engaging with electoral processes responsibly and by respecting the law. Ultimately, the defence of the Kenyatta University voter registration exercise is not just about one event; it is about the broader effort to build a credible, inclusive and peaceful electoral system for the future of Kenya.