Opposition leader Fred Matiang'i has issued an urgent call to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to initiate a nationwide voter registration drive ahead of the 2027 elections. He warned that without robust voter turnout, Kenya risks extending the current administration's term. In his New Year message, he criticized the government's performance and pledged opposition efforts to offer an alternative.
Fred Matiang'i, deputy leader of the Jubilee Party, has made an urgent appeal to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to prioritize voter registration in 2026. In his New Year message on January 1, 2026, he stressed that the drive must cover every part of the country to ensure no eligible voter is excluded.
He proposed setting up registration centers in universities and colleges to encourage young Kenyans to engage in the democratic process. "I urge all eligible Kenyans, mainly the youth, to register as voters in large numbers. To facilitate this process, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission must urgently launch a nationwide mass registration exercise," Matiang'i stated.
He cautioned that without strong voter participation in 2027, Kenya could face another term under the present administration. Matiang'i described 2025 as a bleak year, marked by rising living costs, deteriorating healthcare, heightened insecurity, and widespread school dropouts due to delayed government funding.
He accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of rampant corruption and unfair distribution of public resources. Matiang'i claimed that citizens are not receiving substantial services and that the government prioritizes "propaganda" over tackling key challenges like unemployment and education. He committed the United Opposition to intensifying nationwide outreach to reassure Kenyans and provide an alternative amid ongoing economic difficulties.
"We will only restore good leadership in our beloved country if we garner the requisite numbers at the polling booths in 2027," he added. This push for mass voter registration arrives as opposition groups prepare to contest President William Ruto's government in the upcoming election.
