Kenya's electoral authority will roll out a final mass voter registration exercise starting January 17 as the country continues preparations for its August general elections.

The chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati the three-week exercise will be followed by a diaspora voter registration that will start on January 21 and end on February 6.

The first voter registration drive was conducted between and November, but failed to net the targeted 4.5 new voters. Instead, only 1.4 million new voters enlisted.

Chebukati also pointed out that the commission had cleared a total of 82 political parties to participate in the upcoming general election.

He added that the commission will allow registered voters to confirm and verify their details at least 60 days ahead of the elections.

IEBC will also procure an independent firm to conduct an audit of the voters' register.