Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is pushing for increased voter registration in Western Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Mudavadi said he will be rallying the region to ensure leaders and locals work closely with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in intensifying the registration exercise.

He said he is targeting the four counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia and additionally Trans Nzoia.

The Prime CS explained that this is intended to bolster the numbers to meet the set target of at least 3.4 million registered voters by January 2027.

“Siasa ni numbers (politics is about numbers). When we highlight Kakamega County as a critical voter bloc in Western Kenya for example, we are lagging behind Nairobi and Kiambu in national voter registration. We must pull up our socks.” Mudavadi urged.

“Currently as a region we are at around 2.9 million registered voters meaning that we still have to work to close the 500,000 votes projection gap for us to boast of the numbers. This target will help broaden the margin to give President Ruto a two-term that is petition free.” Mudavadi added.

According to IEBC statistics Kakamega County stands at 952,000 plus registered voters, Bungoma at 720,000, Busia 456,000 and Vihiga 334,000 as by statistics of up to July 2026.

Trans Nzoia adds up with at least 445,000 registered voters so far, figures that Mudavadi said have to improve across all the Western Kenya Counties.

“Let us start there, then move forward since we are not doing well in voter registration compared to other regions.” Mudavadi urged.

“Elections are won at the ballot. At all our political gatherings especially at the grassroots, we want to liaise with IEBC officials so that they can be there to register voters because we want to promote enhanced voter registration,” he said.

Mudavadi said this when he launched the Magharibi Movement Initiative, a lobby group seeking to mobilise Western Kenya around President William Ruto’s administration and his re-election bid.

He said while the movement is expected to support Ruto’s re-election bid, its agenda extends beyond the 2027 polls and will focus on the broader welfare and development of the region.

Mudavadi said the group would not limit its activities to the electoral cycle, arguing that the needs of Western Kenya residents go beyond elections.

He acknowledged that the movement has a political objective ahead of the 2027 General Election but said its long-term focus would be on issues affecting the community.

“True, there is a target for 2027, but we want to go beyond that,” he said.

The prime Cabinet secretary said the initiative would provide a platform through which residents could engage on development, political representation and other issues affecting the region.

“A major focus of the Magharibi Movement will be increasing the number of registered voters in Western Kenya. Political influence is ultimately determined by the number of people who register, turn up at polling stations and cast their ballots.” said the Prime CS

While sounding the voter alarm, the Prime CS also warned that political slogans cannot win elections.

Mudavadi warned supporters against relying on political slogans, insisting that actual votes, rather than rally attendance or campaign rhetoric, determine election outcomes.

“Elections shall not be won by slogans. Slogans do not vote and do not win elections. It is all about going to the polling station and casting the ballot paper into that ballot box. That is a target that we must achieve,” he said.

Mudavadi challenged members of the movement to begin the voter registration campaign within their own families by identifying eligible young people who have obtained national identification cards but have not registered as voters.

“In this lobby group, one of our missions is to find, starting from your own house, how many of your children who have ID cards and have not yet registered to vote in 2027.” Mudavadi said.

The launch came a day after Mudavadi met the four governors from Western Kenya, with the leaders agreeing to work together and pursue common interests affecting the region.

The leaders have agreed to mobilize grassroots and consolidate for the Kenya Kwanza administration.