The push to register millions of new voters ahead of Kenya’s next general election has exposed a familiar fault line, who gets counted, and who is left out.
Speaking at a burial in Kirinyaga on Wednesday, Woman Representative Njeri Maina warned that unequal access to national identity cards could undermine the country’s electoral ambitions. Her remarks come as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) seeks to add 6.5 million voters to the roll before 2027.
“An ID is a fundamental right; it cannot be denied,” Hon. Maina said. “Ensure that these IDs are issued. If you fail, we will come to Nairobi ourselves to deliver them to the people.”
Her comments reflect growing unease among some leaders who say the process of issuing identity cards, required for voter registration, has been uneven. Allegations that certain regions are being prioritised have surfaced in recent weeks, though the government has not publicly addressed the claims in detail.
The IEBC, for its part, has framed the moment as an opportunity. With roughly 17 months to go before the polls, the commission has launched an expanded registration drive, aiming to raise the number of voters from just over 22 million in 2022 to nearly 28.5 million.
Officials have urged eligible citizens to register early, stressing that delays could lock many out of the process altogether. The commission has not indicated that access to identification documents is a barrier, but it has acknowledged the scale of the task ahead.
For Hon. Maina and others, however, the issue goes beyond numbers. It touches on fairness, representation, and trust in the electoral system.
She also used the occasion to call for unity among political leaders in the Mt Kenya region, urging them to set aside rivalries ahead of the 2027 contest.
“Take the bull by the horns; the Mountain is counting on you,” she said. “Sit, talk, and make sure we move together on this journey.”
Her appeal comes at a time of shifting alliances and quiet manoeuvring across Kenya’s political landscape. While the IEBC focuses on logistics, leaders on the ground are already shaping the narrative—and, perhaps, the electorate itself.
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