Maraga urges Kenyans to use remaining eight days of ECVR for political change

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has urged Kenyans to use the remaining eight days of the enhanced voter registration exercise to mobilize for change, describing it as a critical moment to shape the country’s future, restore constitutional order and drive economic recovery.

In a statement on X on Sunday, Maraga framed the voter drive as a turning point, warning against what he described as a government focused on self-interest at the expense of citizens.

“We cannot have a government whose main objective is looting from the public resources and impoverishing the Kenyan people,” he said, adding that the country must “restore sanity” and rebuild an economy he argued has been severely damaged.

He called on citizens to act collectively through the registration process, emphasizing that change would only come through participation.

“Let’s take advantage of the remaining eight days of the enhanced voter registration so together we can send this thieving regime to Kamiti,” he said, underscoring the urgency of the exercise

His remarks come as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission reports a surge in the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise with 1,370,930 new voters registered between March 30 and April 16, 2026.

The figures mark a sharp rise, including 495,429 additional registrations within just one week since April 9, underscoring growing momentum as the exercise nears its April 28 deadline.

According to the electoral body, Nairobi County leads with 150,166 new voters, followed by Kiambu (72,055), Kakamega (61,797), Nakuru (57,068) and Machakos (47,348), while Lamu (6,785), Isiolo (7,380) and Nyandarua (11,440) recorded lower turnout.

The commission also reported 92,602 voter transfers and 1,969 updates to voter details, reflecting broader engagement beyond first-time registrations.

“The Commission extends its deepest gratitude to the 1,370,930 Kenyans who have registered as new voters since the commencement of ECVR,” IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said.

Ethekon attributed the surge largely to young first-time voters, alongside participation from older citizens, signaling widening national involvement in the electoral process.

“From the bustling streets of Nairobi to the remote reaches of Kwale, where even elders aged over 80 have come forward to register, the message is clear: Kenya is ready,” Ethekon said.