NAIROBI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Tuesday released the final list of 19.6 million voters who will participate in the Aug. 8 national polls.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati told a media briefing in Nairobi the final voters' register which was compiled by an international auditing firm recorded a 36 percent increase in the number of new voters since 2013.
"We wish to notify the nation that the commission has finalized the compilation and certification of the register of voters for purposes of the 2017 general election," said Chebukati.
He added that Kenyans in Diaspora alongside prisoners were included in the new voters register that will be availed to key stakeholders for further verification.
"The register of voters shall be made available online and via short message service (SMS) for purposes of inspection starting later this week till the Election Day," Chebukati told reporters.
Kenya's electoral body early this year carried out a mass voter registration exercise that targeted 6 million Kenyans above 18 years.
The month long voter registration exercise was carried out using state of the art technology to deter anomalies.
Chebukati said the youth comprise 51 percent of newly registered voters while male and female voters stood at 53 and 47 percent respectively.
He revealed that 40,883 polling stations that will serve an average of 700 voters each will be established countrywide ahead of the August 8 polls when Kenyans will elect a new president, lawmakers and regional representatives.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival in the opposition National Super Alliance, Raila Odinga have been traversing the country to woo voters ahead of the August polls.
