ELOG wants IEBC to clarify use, storage of iris scan data in voter registration

The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to provide clear information on how iris scan data collected during the ongoing voter registration will be stored and used.

In a Wednesday statement assessing the first week of registration exercise, ELOG said the introduction of iris scans as an additional biometric identifier could enhance voter verification but warned that it raises public concern over privacy and data protection.

ELOG urged the commission to explain how the biometric data will be safeguarded in line with the Data Protection Act and to disclose whether an impact assessment was carried out before the rollout.

The independent observer group, which comprises civil society and faith-based organizations, also asked IEBC to clarify whether any third parties will have access to the data and what measures are in place to prevent misuse.

“ELOG urges IEBC to provide clear information on how iris data will be securely stored and used in compliance with the Data Protection Act,” the statement read in part.

IEBC is registering new voters across 278 constituencies, excluding areas preparing for upcoming by-elections.

According to the electoral body, 7,048 new voters were registered in the first week, alongside 259 transfers and 8 updates of voter details.

ELOG noted that while the figures mark a “positive start,” they represent just 0.11% of the national target of 6.3 million new voters.

The group pointed out a need for “intensified civic mobilization and logistical support.”

Urban counties led in registration numbers, with Nairobi (1,597), Mombasa (556), Kiambu (386), Kisii (312), and Machakos (260) recording the highest tallies.

At the lower end were Lamu (17), Samburu (18), Tana River (21), and Nyamira (10), areas ELOG said should be prioritized for targeted outreach and mobile registration support.

Smaller north-eastern counties such as Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa showed relatively higher growth compared to their 2022 voter registers, which ELOG attributed to effective local mobilization.

At the same time, ELOG raised concern about limited public awareness of where registration is currently taking place. The exercise is restricted to constituency offices.

“Awareness of this limitation remains low, particularly among youth and rural populations,” the group said, also flagging persistent confusion over voter transfer procedures.

The group urged IEBC to strengthen public communication through traditional and digital platforms, including partnerships with county governments, civil society, and media outlets.

Further, it urged IEBC to publish weekly county-level updates to enhance transparency and accountability, and ensure that counties currently holding by-elections are prioritized once registration resumes there.