Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has raised concerns over the credibility of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission voter register, claiming it may contain about six million ghost voters.
Speaking on Wednesday, Omtatah questioned the presence of voter entries that he said reportedly lack biometric data and photographic records, raising doubts about how such records were entered into the system.
He argued that the issue could affect public trust in the electoral process if not addressed.
The senator called for a full verification of the voter register to establish its integrity, saying the country needs a clean and credible register ahead of future elections.
According to him, questions surrounding the register should not be ignored, especially given the central role voter records play in ensuring free and fair elections.
Omtatah said the alleged irregularities point to possible weaknesses in the management of voter data and require urgent scrutiny. He urged the electoral commission to explain how entries without complete identification details were processed into the system.
His remarks have added to the long-running debate around the accuracy of Kenya’s voter register, an issue that has often emerged during election periods.
Concerns over duplicate records, deceased voters and unverifiable entries have in the past sparked calls for audits and reforms.
The senator maintained that an independent verification exercise would help clear doubts and strengthen confidence in the commission.
He said transparency in the process would be important in assuring Kenyans that the register reflects legitimate voters.
The concerns now place pressure on the electoral body to respond to the claims and clarify the status of the voter register, as calls grow for accountability and safeguards to protect the credibility of elections.
