Kenya Uses Iris Biometrics for Voter Registration on Reused Tablets

Published Date : 9/30/2025 

Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to resume Continuous Voter Registration, aiming to register 6.3 million new voters. The process will introduce iris biometrics for enhanced security. 

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya is preparing to resume the Continuous Voter Registration exercise with a target of registering at least 6.3 million new potential voters. A significant enhancement in this process is the introduction of iris biometrics capture, aimed at bolstering the security and accuracy of the voter registration system.

IEBC Chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon, announced during a recent parliamentary hearing that the biometric registration will primarily target young people, who make up a large portion of the potential voter population in the country. Ethekon also discussed the election agency’s preparations for an upcoming by-election and the 2027 general vote, stating that preparations for both elections are on good footing.

During the Parliamentary Accounts Committee hearing, Ethekon emphasized the importance of working with parliamentary leaders and other well-meaning Kenyans to enhance electoral processes and voter experience. The IEBC is committed to improving the security features of the voter registration system, which has traditionally relied on fingerprints and facial photos.

In a recent interview on local TV channel NTV, a BVR operator from the elections management agency, Roy Lokaale, explained the decision to add iris biometrics. “We continue to improve our security features. In the past, we relied on fingerprints and facial photos. Now, we’ve added the iris as a third layer of security and identification,” he disclosed. Lokaale demonstrated the legacy BVR kit used in previous elections, which was first introduced in 2012 for the 2013 elections. These kits have been used to register over 22 million voters up to the 2022 elections.

The biometric kits to be deployed for the registration exercise were among those used for voter verification during the 2022 general elections. Despite some reported glitches with the kits at hundreds of polling stations, the overall system was considered successful. Some of the biometric kits were provided by Idemia and others by Smartmatic. The Smartmatic kits alone cost KES 3.2 billion ($26.7 million), or roughly $1,890 each at August 2022 exchange rates.

To make the process more efficient, the IEBC has integrated the voter registration system into tablets, which are part of the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS). Lokaale explained, “This gadget can now handle registration, voter identification, and eventually transmission of results.” The reuse of the same tablets used for biometric voter verification in 2022 for the coming round of voter registration, even with an additional biometric modality, could potentially make the exercise much more cost-efficient for the IEBC.

Earlier this year, an audit found that 200 of the biometric devices linked to KIEMS were missing. Despite this, the IEBC remains committed to enhancing its voter registration and verification processes to ensure fair and transparent elections. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main goal of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Kenya?

A: The main goal is to register at least 6.3 million new potential voters, primarily targeting young people who make up a large portion of the potential voter population.

Q: What new biometric feature is being introduced for voter registration?

A: Iris biometrics is being introduced to enhance the security and accuracy of the voter registration system.

Q: How are the biometric kits being reused for this registration exercise?

A: The same tablets used for biometric voter verification in 2022 are being reused, now with the added capability of capturing iris biometrics.

Q: What is the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS)?

A: KIEMS is the system used by the IEBC to handle voter registration, identification, and transmission of results, making the process more efficient and secure.

Q: What challenges did the IEBC face with the biometric kits in the 2022 elections?

A: Some glitches were reported with the biometric kits at hundreds of polling stations, but the overall system was considered successful. The kits were provided by companies like Idemia and Smartmatic. 

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