The youth who turned up to register as voters at the IEBC offices in Thika town. Photo/ Lawrence Ongaro
By Lawrence Ongaro
The call for young people to turn up in large numbers to register as voters under the slogan “Tuko Kadi” (“We Are Registered”) has gained significant momentum, with many youths flocking to the IEBC offices in Thika town.
According to the Chief Officer of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in Thika, Michael Mose, the exercise initially began in September 2025. However, the official mass voter registration drive is set to kick off on March 30, 2026.
Mr Mose revealed that since Monday, March 23, up to Wednesday this week, approximately 350 youths had already been registered. He noted that while there has been a shortage of voter registration officers, many of them are currently undergoing training and are expected to return soon to improve service delivery.
Challenges and preparations
Mr Mose explained that the exercise is expected to gain even more speed once each ward is equipped with at least three biometric registration kits. The commission is targeting several areas to reach more young people, including Thika East (Gatuanyaga and Ngoliba) and Thika West (Kamenu Ward and Hospital Ward).
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“We are doing everything possible to ensure that we register as many voters as we can,” said Mr. Mose.
He added that efforts are underway to ensure each registration center is staffed with at least two officers. Additionally, the IEBC plans to allocate about 15 biometric kits across the Thika constituency to enhance the efficiency of the process.
Youth excitement and participation
The “Tuko Kadi” campaign has sparked a new wave of enthusiasm among young people, encouraging many to take part in the registration exercise.
At the main IEBC offices in Thika, long queues of youth can be seen stretching from morning until evening, as they patiently wait for their turn.
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Many of those registering are expected to vote for the first time in the 2027 general elections. The atmosphere at the registration centers is lively, with young people engaging in conversations and debates as they await their chance to be registered.
Despite the long queues and occasional delays, the determination among the youth remains strong. Mr. Mose expressed optimism that even more young people will turn up in the coming days, noting that this is an opportunity many have eagerly awaited for a long time.
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