political checkmating

Kenya 2022 elections: Let the game of numbers begin

By Son Gatitu

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Posted on October 14, 2021 15:56

An official from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) inspects ballot boxes at Kasarani gymnasium in Kenya’s capital Nairobi © An official from the IEBC inspects ballot boxes at Kasarani gymnasium in Kenya’s capital Nairobi March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Noor Khamis
An official from the IEBC inspects ballot boxes at Kasarani gymnasium in Kenya’s capital Nairobi March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Noor Khamis

Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has begun a nationwide voter registration 10 months ahead of the general election. The commission is looking to enlist at least 7.2 million new voters, and for the political class, this is both an opportunity and a threat. The seven million potential voters, mostly young people, could easily tilt the election. It is now a game of numbers in what has historically been a tribe-based electoral contest.

In Kenya, for one to participate in an election, they must be over 18 years of age and have an identity card, the primary identification document for an adult. Kenyan law requires the IEBC to conduct continuous voter registration for Kenyans who reach the age of majority. This is however not the case as the commission perennially complains of limited resources and a lack of motivation for potential voters to enlist.

According to the country’s 2019 census report, there are over 27 million Kenyans above the age of majority. In 2017, there were 19.6 million voters in the electoral register, but with population growth and changing age structure, Kenya now has at least 14.7 million youth aged between 18-35. This accounts for 52% of the adult population, all of whom ought to be enlisted.

A conversation has emerged in Kenya over the potential of young voters, especially first-timers, to tilt

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