The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has moved to reassure residents of Thika following concerns raised by young voters over significant delays and logistical hurdles at registration centers. Despite reports of long queues and faulty equipment, the Commission maintains that these are temporary setbacks ahead of a nationwide scaling-up of the exercise.
Youth Concerns and “Niko Kadi” Momentum
A section of Gen Z youth in Thika, led by activists Magdalene Gathoni and Joseph Giathi, voiced frustrations over what they termed “poor planning.” Many reported spending hours at centers only to leave without being served. The surge in turnout is largely attributed to the “Niko Kadi” (I have a card) movement—a grassroots social media campaign launched in February 2026 that has successfully mobilized thousands of young Kenyans to claim their voting rights.
The youth expressed suspicion that the technical hitches and staff shortages might be a deliberate attempt to suppress the high turnout. They highlighted that at some stations, only a single officer was available to handle hundreds of applicants, leading to severe congestion and disruption of daily activities.
IEBC’s Official Response
Michael Mose, the IEBC Constituency Election Manager for Thika, dismissed fears of a deliberate slowdown. He explained that the current delays are a result of the transition into the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) phase.
According to Mose:
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- Staff Training: Most junior officers are currently away on mandatory training to prepare for the massive rollout scheduled to begin next week.
- Equipment Upgrades: While the office is currently operating with limited kits, the Commission expects to deploy 15 high-speed registration kits across the five wards of Thika (covering Thika East and Thika West) by Monday.
- Mass Exercise: The official nationwide mass voter registration is set to kick off on March 30, 2026, which will see registration services move from constituency offices directly into neighborhoods.
National Context: The Road to 2027
The tension in Thika reflects a broader national trend. The IEBC, under Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, has set an ambitious target to register 2.5 million new voters during this first phase of the ECVR. The Commission aims to have a total register of 28.5 million voters in time for the 2027 General Election.
To meet this goal, the IEBC is shifting to a “proactive model,” employing temporary clerks who will travel from village to village. This decentralized approach is intended to remove the barriers that currently force many young people to travel long distances to constituency headquarters.
Advice for Prospective Voters
The IEBC has urged residents to remain patient and turn out in large numbers once the ward-level exercise begins next week. Officials reminded the public that:
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- Registration is a continuous process but will be most accessible during the upcoming 30-day “enhanced” window.
- Faulty Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits are being serviced and replaced with updated models to handle the expected high volume of data.
- Voters are encouraged to register at centers where they intend to vote to avoid future transfer complications.
