The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has clarified that Kenyans who registered as voters before 2012 do not need to register afresh, unless they have never enrolled under the biometric voter registration system introduced that year.
The clarification follows public confusion over whether all voters registered before 2012 are required to re-register ahead of upcoming electoral activities.
The IEBC explained that the shift from a manual to a biometric Register of Voters (ROV) in 2012 marked a significant transition under the new Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the subsequent boundary delimitation exercise.
“Before 2012, the Register of Voters was manual. In 2012, it went biometric, and all eligible Kenyans were required to enrol and have their biometrics captured,” the Commission stated on Saturday.
“This is the register that has been in use since the 2013 General Election.”
The IEBC emphasized that only individuals who registered before 2012 and did not update their details under the biometric system are required to register anew.
Those who successfully registered biometrically in or after 2012 remain valid voters and are included in the current register.
As of the 2022 General Election, the IEBC maintained an accurate and audited register comprising 22,120,458 voters.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the voter register and ensuring that all eligible Kenyans are properly captured in the biometric system.
