The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set a target to register more than 183,000 new voters in Mombasa County ahead of the 2027 General Election as part of its Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) drive.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the Commission aims to grow the county’s voter population from 642,000 to 825,000 by expanding registration points to neighbourhoods and boosting accessibility.
Breaking down the figures, Ethekon noted that the county’s constituency targets include Changamwe (from 93,561 to 120,241), Jomvu (75,085 to 96,495), Kisauni (135,276 to 173,851), Nyali (124,235 to 160,000), Likoni (94,764 to 121,786), and Mvita (118,974 to 152,900).
Speaking in Mombasa during a youth sensitisation forum hosted by Amnesty International, Ethekon decried the slow uptake of the ongoing registration—now in its third week—with only 3,976 new voters enlisted in Mombasa and 90,020 nationwide against a target of 6.8 million.
He attributed the low turnout to limited registration centres, which are currently restricted to constituency offices. However, he assured that the mass phase of registration set to begin after the November 27 by-elections — will bring the service closer to the people.
“We will move our registration centres to neighbourhoods to make the process more accessible and encourage more youth to register,” he said.
To support the process, he added, IEBC is working with the National Registration Bureau to fast-track ID issuance and collaborating with civil society, media, and influencers to mobilise young people.
Ethekon also appealed for collective efforts to restore public trust in the electoral body, saying new safeguards, including enhanced voter identification and results transmission systems, have strengthened transparency.
He cautioned politicians and media against misinformation that risks discouraging voter participation.
“Young people and bloggers must help shape the narrative. When we leave it to politicians alone, we risk losing faith in our institutions,” he said.
Kenya’s voter turnout has declined sharply from 78.9% in 2017 to 64% in 2022, a trend Ethekon attributed to growing apathy among youth. IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein echoed the call, urging young Kenyans to channel their activism into electoral participation.
“Meaningful change happens at the ballot, not just online,” he said. Vocal Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid pledged support in mobilising youth, who are expected to represent 56% of eligible voters in 2027.
“If they turn up in numbers, the youth can decide the country’s future,” he stated.
“This time, let the voter’s card be your voice.”
Meanwhile, local organisations and leaders in Nyali, including Team Elkana Jacob Foundation, Team Elkana Jacob Mashinani, and media practitioner Charles Mghenyi, who had declared interest in Mombasa senatorial seat, have intensified awareness drives across the constituency.
Elkana , who has declared interest in the Nyali parliamentary seat, is set to roll out a village-to-village and door-to-door mobilisation campaign to ensure every eligible resident is registered.
