IEBC Suspends Voter Registration in Kenya and Diaspora Until 2023

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has suspended voter registration ahead of the August 9th elections.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said no registration of voters will take place in the country and diaspora until March 13th, 2023, when the continuous listing will resume.

“The IEBC gives notice that the application for new registration and change in registration of voters in Kenya and for Kenyan citizens living outside the country shall be suspended from May 4th, 2022 to March 13th, 2023,” Chebukati said in a gazette notice dated April 28th.

Section 5(1) (a) of the Elections Act says every adult Kenyan citizen has the right to register to vote until 60 days before the election date.

But IEBC argues that having a continuous voter registration while it is expected to audit the register and offer it for verification is irrational.

At the same time, the electoral commission announced it will open the voter register for verification following the completion of an audit.

"The IEBC gives notice that the new preliminary register of voters has been completed and is available for verification for a period of 30 days from May 4th to June 2nd, 2022," Chebukati added.

"A person who duly applied to be registered and his or her name or biometric data has not been captured correctly in the register of voters may make a claim to the registration officer within the period prescribed for verification. The claim must be made in the prescribed form."

After the verification exercise, the commission is expected to gazette the register for use in the August 9 general election.