Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for sweeping changes to Kenya’s election system, urging the use of national ID cards in place of the current voter register and proposing staggered elections to cut costs and improve transparency.

In an interview aired on NTV on Sunday, Raila criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), accusing it of fuelling corruption through procurement-heavy operations. He said the current voter registration system has become a business opportunity for looters.

“The system is bloated to enable looting,” Raila said, calling for the complete abolition of the current voter register and the adoption of national ID cards as the only requirement to vote.

“Why are Kenyan elections among the most expensive in the world? It’s not rocket science. If you have an ID, you should vote. There are areas where people don’t have voter cards, and this skews the register,” he added.

He maintained that the requirement for separate voter cards locks out many eligible voters, especially in marginalised areas.

Stagger the six elections
The ODM leader also proposed major changes in how elections are conducted, saying that holding all six races; presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, MP, Woman Rep, and MCA on the same day leads to confusion and raises the cost of elections.

“The way we conduct elections creates confusion and drives up costs. It’s time for a radical rethink,” he said.
He argued that staggered elections would ease logistical pressure and enhance clarity during the polls.

Raila called on the newly appointed electoral commission, chaired by Erastus Ethekon, to take urgent steps to rebuild public trust following years of disputed results and perceived bias.
He said many Kenyans have lost faith in the process, and that confidence must be restored ahead of the 2027 general election.
“There’s been a lot of reckless talk lately about vote rigging in 2027,” he said, warning that such rhetoric erodes the credibility of democratic institutions.

‘History will vindicate us’
The ODM leader defended his political record, saying he had only officially lost one election—in 1997—and that Kenyans are well aware of the controversies surrounding the others.
“I’ve only lost once, in 1997. Kenyans know what happened. History will vindicate us,” Raila said.
His remarks come at a time of growing debate around electoral reform and possible political shifts ahead of the 2027 elections.