Nairobi: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has criticised claims by some political actors that they will influence the electoral process in the 2027 presidential election through extra-legal mechanisms. IEBC Chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon, said that these utterances, which have elicited considerable disquiet within the electoral environment, pose a real risk of distorting public perception of Kenya’s democratic processes.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ethekon stated that the IEBC considers such utterances reckless, unacceptable and entirely baseless. ‘The utterances are clearly intended to instill fear, mislead the public and erode confidence in the integrity of the electoral system. IEBC therefore, urges all Kenyans to disregard, dissociate and refrain from amplifying them,’ Ethekon said.
He added that for avoidance of doubt, the duty and responsibility of conducting and supervising elections in Kenya is exclusively vested in the IEBC under Article 88 of the Constitution of Kenya. This mandate is not shared with, nor can it be usurped by, any individual, institution or political actor.
The Chairperson highlighted that Kenya has developed a resilient and vibrant democracy that is reliable, credible, verifiable, and anchored in the rule of law. He emphasized that the country’s leadership bears a responsibility to safeguard these gains and must refrain from making unverified, inflammatory, or misleading statements related to vote-rigging or voter manipulation, which undermine public confidence in electoral processes and the IEBC’s independence.
Ethekon expressed particular concern over assertions suggesting that the IEBC is weak, compromised, or susceptible to external influence. He explained that such claims are not only false and misleading but also deeply disrespectful to the institution and its constitutional role in safeguarding the sovereign will of the people.
He clarified the current legal position, noting that the Electoral Code of Conduct under Article 84 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, read together with Section 110 of the Elections Act, is not presently operational, as the IEBC is clothed with the jurisdiction under the Code during the election period. This legal position was affirmed by the Supreme Court in the judgment of Sabina Chege Supreme Court Petition No. 23 (E026) of 2022.
Ethekon stated that the IEBC has not declared any elections and there is no publication of the 2027 General Election that warrants the current wave of premature and irresponsible utterances. He mentioned that they shall engage the relevant authorities for appropriate action.
He urged political actors to stop misleading the public about election rigging and to start embracing the steps set out for the country’s preparedness to conduct the 2027 General Election. He called for respect of institutional independence as guaranteed in the Constitution.
Ethekon emphasized that it is incumbent upon all stakeholders to work collectively and engage constructively to reinforce and strengthen trust and confidence. He stated, ‘Strengthening Kenya’s democracy is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the IEBC to all citizens, leaders and institutions alike.’
In this regard, Ethekon encouraged all eligible Kenyans to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) at Constituency offices, Huduma Centres across the country, and the Customer Care Centre at Anniversary Towers, Nairobi. He urged citizens to prepare to exercise their democratic right to elect leaders of their choice in the upcoming 2027 General Election.
