The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that on Wednesday, applications for new voter registration and changes in voter registration for Kenyan citizens living abroad will be suspended.
The electoral commission stated in a statement that the suspension is to allow public access to the voter register for the purposes of verifying biometric data and particulars of registered voters, as required by Section 6A of the Elections Act, 2011.
According to Wafula Chebukati, the chairman of the electoral body, 396,163 registered voters applied to transfer to registration centers of their choice, while 2,269 others changed their information.
The electoral commission also reported that the registration of Kenyans living outside the country resulted in the registration of 2,959 new voters, with another 2,964 requesting transfers and 2,036 requesting changes of information.
The next step will be an audit of voter registration, as required by Section 8 of the Election Act 2011, which requires the Commission to engage a professional reputable firm to conduct an audit of the voter register at least 6 months prior to the date of a General Election to verify its accuracy.
The firm will also make recommendations for improving the register’s accuracy and updating it.
