The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya is introducing iris recognition technology for the first time in its voter registration process ahead of the 2027 General Elections. This high-tech approach aims to enhance election credibility but also raises privacy concerns.

• The IEBC is targeting 6.3 million new voters in a nationwide Continuous Voter Registration drive.
• The new process involves scanning national IDs, capturing fingerprints, a passport photo, and now iris scans.
• Civil rights groups express concern over the storage and protection of sensitive iris data, which is considered highly personal and irreversible.
• Turnout was low on the first day, indicating public mistrust and hesitation regarding the new technology.