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.
In a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, Ethekon said that 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 said that Kenya has, over time, built a resilient and vibrant democracy that is reliable, credible, verifiable, and anchored in the rule of law adding that the country’s leadership bears a responsibility to safeguard these gains and must therefore refrain from making unverified, inflammatory or misleading statements relating to vote-rigging or voter manipulation, which only serve to undermine public confidence in electoral processes and the IEBC’s independence.
“Of particular concern are assertions suggesting that the IEBC is weak, compromised, or susceptible to external influence. Such claims are not only false and misleading but also deeply disrespectful to the institution and the constitutional role it plays in safeguarding the sovereign will of the people,” he said.
“Whereas the IEBC unequivocally condemns and dismisses these utterances with the contempt they deserve, it is important to clarify the current legal position. The Electoral Code of Conduct as prescribed 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,” explained Ethekon.
He said that the IEBC has not declared any elections. Further, there is no publication of the 2027 General Election that has been made to warrant the current wave of premature and irresponsible utterances.
Ethekon said that they shall engage the relevant authorities for appropriate action.
“It is time political actors stopped hoodwinking the public that the election will be rigged and instead start embracing the steps set out on the country’s preparedness to conduct the 2027 General Election. Let everyone respect institutional independence as guaranteed in the Constitution,” he warned.
Ethekon said that it is incumbent upon all stakeholders to work collectively, engage constructively to reinforce and strengthen trust and confidence.
“Strengthening Kenya’s democracy is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the IEBC to all citizens, leaders and institutions alike,” he said.
“In this regard, IEBC encourages 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. Citizens are also urged to prepare to exercise their democratic right to elect leaders of their choice in the upcoming 2027 General Election,” said Ethekon.
The Chairperson said that the nation depends on every citizen to uphold the values of peace, stability and prosperity through their active participation in the electoral process.
“The Commission reiterates its unwavering commitment to upholding its constitutional mandate. IEBC assures the public and all stakeholders that it will continue to safeguard its independence and impartiality, while discharging its constitutional mandate,” said Ethekon.
He said that IEBC remains fully dedicated to deliver a 2027 General Election that will be free, fair and credible in accordance with the laws of Kenya and international best practices.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
