By Andrew Kariuki

A 27 year old man from Mombasa has raised concerns over the integrity of the voter register after discovering that he is already listed as a registered voter in Garissa County despite never having voted.

Morris Orris Kioko, who obtained his national ID in 2016, said he made the discovery while attempting to verify his details as part of preparations to register ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Upon checking the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) voter verification portal, Kioko found that his ID number and personal information were already captured in the system. The records indicated that he was registered in Kone Ward, Jarajara Sub-location in Balambala, Garissa County.

Kioko maintains that he has never participated in any election, including the 2017 and 2022 polls and had only intended to register as a first-time voter in the upcoming electoral cycle.

He further expressed surprise that the system suggested he had previously voted in Garissa, a county he says he has no connection to.

The case has drawn the attention of IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahma Abdalla, who has summoned Kioko to appear before the commission. Abdalla described the matter as unusual and said investigations would be conducted to establish how his details were entered into the voter register.

The incident comes at a time when the electoral body is undertaking an enhanced continuous voter registration exercise aimed at increasing the number of registered voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

Kioko’s case is likely to raise fresh questions about the accuracy and credibility of the voter register, particularly as the country prepares for the next general election.