Political analyst and lawyer Fanya Mambo Kinuthia, together with Progress Plus Alliance (PPA) party leader Maliba Arnold, have linked the ongoing low voter registration turnout to limited access to registration centers and inefficiencies within the IEBC systems.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Monday, Kinuthia and Arnold said that logistical and technical hurdles continue to discourage citizens from registering or updating their voter details.
Kinuthia said that some constituencies are too vast, making it expensive and time-consuming for citizens to reach registration centers.
“Look at a constituency as big as Kibwezi. There are parts where to get from one side to the other, you need 500 shillings one way, that’s 1,000 shillings just to go and register,” Kinuthia explained, arguing that the process is not only inconvenient but also discouraging to potential voters.
He explained that despite calls to boost registration numbers, the commission has failed to decentralize services beyond constituency headquarters, effectively excluding people living far from towns or rural centers.
“They have not made it very accessible,” he said, adding that such structural inefficiencies have contributed to the perception of low voter enthusiasm.
On his part, PPA leader Maliba Arnold said the blame for low registration numbers should not be placed on citizens, especially the youth, but on the sluggish IEBC systems and poor planning.
PPA leader Maliba Arnold speaking during an interview on Radio Generation on October 20, 2025. PHOTO/Ignatious Openje/RG“We shouldn’t be too worried about the numbers as such because the systems themselves have been very slow,” Arnold noted.
“I went around several constituency offices in Nairobi, from Dagoretti North, to Westlands, to Mathare, and all the offices were full from morning to evening.”
He emphasized that while reports have cited low turnout, the problem lies in the capacity of IEBC’s systems to handle the volume of applicants efficiently.
“You cannot then put it to young people that they’ve not turned out, young people were thronging those places,” he said.
Arnold added that the commission’s systems have not been operational for nearly four years, which could explain the technical difficulties witnessed during the current registration period.
“The systems haven’t really been open for about four years. So, naturally, when they start operating again, there will be delays and hiccups,” he said, comparing the situation to a classroom where instructors who haven’t taught for years suddenly have to handle thousands of learners at once.
He narrated his own experience attempting to make changes to his registration details, describing repeated encounters with system delays.
“I was told to come after week one and week two. When I went, I was told the system wasn’t properly warmed up yet. The officers themselves were struggling with it,” Arnold explained, noting that many citizens faced similar frustrations across different registration stations.
The PPA leader said that the commission’s reliance on constituency headquarters as the only registration points was a major oversight, adding that it excluded those living in remote or informal settlements who cannot afford frequent transport costs.
Both Kinuthia and Arnold urged IEBC to expand registration access points, upgrade its systems, and sensitize citizens early to avoid last-minute congestion and technical failures.
Kinuthia stressed that ensuring inclusivity in voter registration is fundamental to upholding democracy and fair representation, particularly for rural and economically disadvantaged populations.
“We cannot expect equal participation when access itself is unequal,” he remarked.
