By Robert Mutasi 
Uasin Gishu County has hit a new political milestone after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) confirmed that the county now has 575,048 registered voters as of July 2026, ranking it 16th nationally among the 47 counties.
The latest data released by the IEBC on Monday, July 21, 2026, shows that Uasin Gishu continues to cement its position as one of the most vote-rich counties in Kenya and a critical battleground in the North Rift region as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Uasin Gishu, which is President William Ruto’s home county, has witnessed a steady surge in voter registration over the past few years. This growth has been driven by a youthful population, rapid urbanization following the elevation of Eldoret to city status, and continuous voter registration drives conducted by the IEBC in all six constituencies.
With 575,048 voters, Uasin Gishu sits just behind Siaya County which has 582,165 voters, and just ahead of Nyeri County which has 531,778 voters. This places the county firmly within the top 20 counties with the highest number of voters in the country.
In the North Rift cluster, Uasin Gishu is now the leading county in terms of registered voters, ahead of its neighbours. Nandi County has 461,262 voters and is ranked 22nd, Trans Nzoia has 444,766 voters ranked 25th, Baringo has 319,865 voters, West Pokot has 261,080 voters ranked 37th, and Elgeyo Marakwet has 244,164 voters ranked 38th.
Nationally, the total number of registered voters stands at 24,715,257. Nairobi City remains the county with the highest number of voters at 2,743,155, followed by Kiambu at 2,426,477, Nakuru at 1,965,036, Meru at 949,046, and Kakamega at 948,567 voters, making up the top five counties by voter population.
At the other end of the spectrum, counties with the lowest number of registered voters include Lamu with 91,604, Isiolo with 100,533, Samburu with 120,805, Tana River with 161,002, and Marsabit with 191,343 voters.
For Uasin Gishu, the 575,048 figure carries huge political weight. The county comprises six constituencies – Turbo, Moiben, Ainabkoi, Kapseret, Kesses and Soy – all of which are considered crucial in national politics. The elevation of Eldoret to city status has attracted an influx of residents, university students from Moi University and University of Eldoret, business people and workers, all contributing to the expanding voter population.
Political analysts say Uasin Gishu will remain a key focus for all major presidential contenders in 2027 due to its numbers and its influence in the larger Rift Valley voting bloc. While the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has traditionally enjoyed strong support in the county, the emergence of new parties is expected to make competition stiffer.
The IEBC has urged unregistered Kenyans, especially youth who have attained the age of 18 years, to take advantage of the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise at its constituency offices across Uasin Gishu and the rest of the country to enlist as voters.