IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the exercise will expand the existing register, which already holds 22.1 million names.

“Our projection of the 6.3 million new voters is not based on census data, as in the past, but on records from the National Registration Bureau. Based on this, we anticipate registering all Kenyans who will have attained the voting age of 18 by the time of the exercise,” he explained.

The registration campaign will cover all 290 constituencies, with the first launch in Kajiado. The Huduma Centers and planned voter registration centers will be operational Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Eligible citizens will be able to register as new voters, update information, transfer registration, or verify information online.

To support the exercise, IEBC allocated Ksh8 billion out of its budget of Ksh57.3 billion for the 2027 elections.. Another Ksh2.5 billion will go toward stakeholder engagement, Ksh7 billion will fund the replacement of ageing KIEMS kits, and Ksh2.4 billion will cover system maintenance.

However, the commission has come under criticism over its preparedness. The Opposition has demanded proof of due diligence in procurement, including dealings with Smartmatic and other technology providers. Ethekon stated the commission had addressed such concerns, in particular on data protection, and formulated policies for governing its operations.

Voting is open to Kenyan citizens aged above 18 years, who own a valid national ID or passport, and should not be already registered. People with electoral-related convictions over the last five years or declared of unsound mind are disqualified.

For Kenyans abroad, only passports will be accepted for registration, except for those in East Africa who may use their national IDs.

“A credible register is central to free and fair elections, and every citizen’s participation strengthens democracy,” Ethekon said.