Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o/FILE
Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has called on young Kenyans to take voter registration seriously, warning that the current low numbers are alarming.
In a post on Saturday, the MP expressed concern that despite the voter registration drive being in its second week, turnout remained low across the country.
“Kindly register as voters!! 1 week down, only 4300 voters in the whole country!! Gen Z tuchangamke!! Please!!” he wrote on his Instagram account.
His remarks add to growing concerns about youth participation in electoral processes.
Former Presidential advisor Moses Kuria had on Friday, September 3, cautioned that Generation Z risked becoming politically irrelevant if they failed to register in large numbers.
“Gen Z are not registering as voters. From leaderless, partyless, formless to voteless. Nice!” Kuria observed.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), giving an update on the registration process, reported that just over 7,000 new voters had been added to the roll in the first four days of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
Between September 29 and October 2, the commission registered 7,048 new voters, with 259 transfers and eight updates recorded.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon acknowledged the slow start but maintained that the commission was encouraged by the “progressive growth” in registrations.
He urged eligible Kenyans, especially first-time voters, to come forward in large numbers. “Together, let us strengthen our democracy, safeguard our institutions, and secure the future of our nation,” he said.
The commission has introduced new measures to boost efficiency and inclusivity.
A major change is the addition of iris scans to its biometric registration system, which previously relied on fingerprints and digital photographs.
Ethekon explained that the iris “provides an alternative means of voter identification should fingerprint recognition fail.”
He assured the public that the handling of personal data remains compliant with the Data Protection Act, 2019.
“All data collected during voter registration is securely stored, accessed solely by duly authorised officers and applied strictly for its legally prescribed purposes,” he stated, warning that violations would attract legal sanctions.
The voter registration drive, relaunched on September 29, is ongoing across the country except in areas preparing for by-elections.
The IEBC has set aside Sh8 billion of its Sh57.3 billion election budget to support the exercise.
Despite the investment, leaders like Jalang’o insist that success depends on the youth showing up.
His rallying call reflects a broader national concern over whether Kenya’s younger population will turn their vocal activism into actual votes at the ballot box.
