Migori County election officials have called on young people to take full advantage of the ongoing 30-day voter registration exercise to ensure they are eligible to participate in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ forum held at IFAD Hall in Migori, County Election Manager Ben Moseti emphasized the importance of youth participation in the electoral process, noting that their involvement is key to shaping the country’s democratic future. The forum brought together youth leaders, women, and People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) to discuss ways of enhancing voter registration in the region.
Moseti revealed that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has deployed three Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits in every constituency across the county to boost the registration exercise. The commission is targeting registering at least 63,000 new voters before the exercise concludes on May 5.
To reach more young people, voter registration personnel equipped with KIEMS kits have been stationed at strategic institutions, including Rongo University and Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTC) across the country. These institutions have been identified as key centres where large numbers of eligible but unregistered youths can be reached.
In addition, the Migori Huduma Centre has been designated as another registration point to capture youths who visit the facility for government services. Moseti urged young people to take advantage of these accessible locations to ensure their voices are heard in the next election.
“I want to urge the youths to utilise this one-month period to register and have their voices counted in the upcoming 2027 General Election,” he said.
Moseti noted that the county has recorded steady progress in the first few days of the exercise, with an average of at least 20 new voters registered per KIEMS kit daily. He expressed optimism that the county is on track to meet its target if the current trend continues.
However, he identified delays in the issuance of national identification cards as a major challenge affecting youth registration. Many young people who are eligible to register as voters are unable to do so due to lack of identification documents.
To address this issue, IEBC officials have engaged the Office of the Registrar of Persons and the County Commissioner’s office to expedite the processing and issuance of ID cards. Arrangements have also been made to distribute available IDs through local administrative offices, including chiefs, to enable easier collection at the village level.
On inclusivity, Moseti assured People Living with Disabilities that special measures have been put in place to ensure they are not left out. Registration officials will visit individuals with mobility challenges at their homes to capture their details.
The IEBC has also intensified public awareness campaigns to boost registration numbers. The commission has partnered with six local radio stations, ward-level mobilisers, and community opinion leaders to spread information about the importance of voter registration, particularly among young people.
Youth representative Samuel Odhiambo, who attended the forum, described the engagement as informative and impactful. He encouraged fellow youths to share the information widely and motivate others to register.
Similarly, Ishmael Otieno, a person with a disability, commended the IEBC for its commitment to inclusivity, noting that the assurance of home-based registration for those unable to travel will significantly improve participation among PWDs.
By Makokha Khaoya
