NAIROBI, Kenya — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has restored its voter verification portal, following a period of unexplained downtime that had sparked significant public concern and left millions of Kenyans unable to access their voter registration information.
The commission announced on Sunday 6, July 2025 that the portal is now back online, attributing the outage to a period of system maintenance. This maintenance, according to the IEBC, was aimed at migrating its infrastructure to enhance both performance and security.
The announcement brings an end to days of uncertainty during which Kenyans were unable to confirm their registration details via either the IEBC web portal or the SMS platform (which requires voters to send their ID or passport number along with their year of birth to 70000).
Both crucial verification channels were inaccessible during the maintenance window, prompting growing anxiety, particularly as political momentum builds toward the 2027 General Election.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the electoral body sought to reassure voters, stating, “We wish to assure all Kenyans that the registration details of the 22,120,458 registered voters, as recorded during the 2022 General Election, remain intact and secure.” The IEBC added that the system upgrade was a necessary step to bolster service delivery through improved system performance and data security.
However, the significant lack of clarity and communication from the commission during the downtime triggered widespread public concern and scrutiny. The IEBC failed to disclose crucial information such as when the maintenance commenced, its anticipated duration, or the specific nature of the system upgrades.
Its initial statement merely noted, “We will promptly communicate once the system is fully operational and ready for verification of voter details,” without providing a concrete timeline.
The abrupt unavailability of these vital verification tools—especially in a country with a history of contested elections and ongoing concerns around electoral transparency—sparked fresh debate on the commission’s preparedness and openness as the 2027 General Election approaches.
While the IEBC’s eventual confirmation of the portal’s restoration has brought some relief, questions continue to linger over the commission’s communication protocols and its ability to proactively manage critical public systems.
With the voter verification platform now functional, observers and civil society groups are urging the IEBC to adopt greater transparency when managing such sensitive digital infrastructure.
As the electoral calendar progresses, the commission remains under pressure to demonstrate institutional reliability and effectively restore public confidence in its handling of electoral processes.
The voter verification tool plays a vital role in ensuring accurate electoral rolls and empowering citizens to participate actively in the democratic process.
With more than 22 million registered voters and rising political stakes, the IEBC’s operational efficiency and communication strategies will undoubtedly remain a key focus in the lead-up to 2027.
