Murang’a: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has raised concern over the low number of Kenyans turning up to register as voters, warning that the trend could negatively impact participation in future elections.
According to Kenya News Agency, Murang’a County Elections Manager Saumu Chirchir highlighted during a civic forum on elections and community security held in Murang’a County that many citizens, particularly young people, have yet to embrace the ongoing voter registration exercise. Chirchir emphasized that the commission has already put in place comprehensive plans in preparation for the next elections while continuing with campaigns to encourage eligible citizens to register.
Chirchir expressed concern over the low turnout across all the seven constituencies in the county. She noted that many young people have complained about the long distances they have to travel to register. She mentioned that the commission is working on plans to bring services closer to wananchi, with an upcoming rollout of Continuous Voter Registration Phase One to take services down to the ward level. However, she encouraged those who can reach the offices to do so even before the mobile registration begins.
Chirchir also urged young people to collect their national identity cards from offices of the Registrar of Persons to enable them to register as voters. She pointed out that many IDs remain uncollected at registrar offices, appealing to the youth to take action so they can participate in the electoral process.
During the meeting, election preparedness and security were also discussed, with participants noting that while security agencies appear well prepared, some areas require improvement ahead of the 2027 polls. Regina Wambui, a representative of the Justice Advocacy and Empowerment Center, encouraged young people to register in large numbers to participate in choosing leaders and shaping the country’s future. She expressed optimism that intensified voter education and improved access to registration centers will boost youth participation in the coming electoral exercise.
Youth leader Mike Steve cautioned young people against being exploited by politicians during election periods. He urged them to register as voters to elect leaders who can bring change, emphasizing that their energy and strength should not be used to cause violence but instead be channeled toward building communities and contesting leadership positions themselves.
