The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has clarified that Kenyans who registered as voters before 2012 are not required to register afresh, unless they failed to enrol under the biometric system introduced that year.
In a statement aimed at addressing public concerns on April 4, 2026, the Commission explained that the current Register of Voters (ROV) was established in 2012 following the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the subsequent electoral boundaries delimitation.
IEBC noted that prior to 2012, voter registration was conducted manually.
However, the transition to a biometric system required all eligible Kenyans at the time to re-register so that their biometric data could be captured.
Biometric register
This biometric register has remained in use since the 2013 General Election.
“Those who registered before 2012 do not need to register again unless they did not enrol under the biometric system introduced in 2012 and have not registered since,” the Commission said.
According to IEBC, the voter register used during the 2022 Kenyan General Election was accurate and audited, comprising over 22 million voters.
The Commission reassured the public that only a small number of individuals who may have missed the 2012 biometric registration and have not registered since are required to do so.
IEBC further emphasized its commitment to inclusivity and public participation in strengthening the country’s democratic processes, urging eligible Kenyans to take advantage of ongoing voter registration exercises without panic.
The IEBC had earlier announced progress in the ongoing nationwide voter registration exercise while clarifying that Kenyans who registered before 2012 must enrol afresh to be included in the current biometric register.
In a statement shared on X on Friday, April 3, 2026, the commission said the current biometric Register of Voters (RoV) came into operation in 2012 after the promulgation of the 2010 constitution.
“The current biometric Register of Voters (RoV) came into operation in 2012 upon the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010; the enactment of the Elections Act, which introduced biometric voter registration as a key electoral reform measure and boundaries delimitation of 2012,” the statement read in part.
The Commission further explained that its target for this ECVR exercise is to enlist 2.5 million new voters into the Register of Voters.
“This nationwide mass registration drive is a critical milestone as we prepare for the 2027 General Elections. The Commission’s target for this ECVR exercise is to enlist 2.5 million new voters into the Register of Voters (RoV). We thank all Kenyans who have turned up to register, transfer their registration, or update their particulars,” the statement reads.
