Gloria Orwoba slams IEBC for failing to target Gen Z in voter registration
Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for neglecting to prioritise Generation Z in its ongoing voter registration campaign.
Speaking at a local TV station on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Orwoba argued that the commission has missed a critical opportunity to mobilize first-time voters, many of whom participated in recent Gen Z-led demonstrations.
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“With IEBC we are sort of dead on arrival because one of the things they would have strated with is that we have these new virgin voters, they have nevedr voted, you want to get them on the ballot, you want to get them to come and vote but you don’t see as if that’s what IEBC is targeting,” she said.
She noted that several days into the registration drive, IEBC had yet to launch a strong campaign specifically tailored to the youth, despite the recent momentum generated by Gen Z activism.
“3, 4 days in, the strongest campaign, I believe, they would have had is for the youths, considering that we just got out of the Gen Z demonstrations and then the anniversary, so you would be telling these people, stop going to the streets; what you need to do is go get registered,” she added.
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IEBC
However, the Commission raised concerns over the alarmingly low turnout in the ongoing voter registration exercise across the country.
Speaking at a local TV station on Monday, September 29, 2025, IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu revealed that field reports from registration officers indicate very low numbers, with some centres registering as few as three to five people in an entire day.
“From the reports we are getting one by one from the registration officers, some registered three, others five. It is a great concern to IEBC on the low voter turnout because once Kenyans do not turn up to register as voters, it means that they are excluding themselves from participating in their democratic processes,” she said.
Nderitu stressed that voter registration is the foundation of democracy and reminded Kenyans that their voice can only be heard through the ballot box.
“Every Kenyan is encouraged to register and to participate in the electoral processes because by doing that, that is how your vote becomes your voice,” she added.
