Nairobi – Kenya’s electoral commission is once again under fire.
Just weeks into office, the newly appointed team at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is already staring down a storm. With the 2027 General Election looming, critics are raising questions about whether the body can guarantee a free and fair vote.
At the heart of the concerns is public confidence-or the lack of it.
The IEBC’s fresh start began on July 11, when Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon and his fellow commissioners officially assumed their roles. But instead of settling in quietly, they’ve walked straight into a crisis of trust. Their first major test? Managing 20 by-elections across the country, while laying the groundwork for a high-stakes presidential poll just two years away.
Political analyst Ahmed Hashi believes the issue goes beyond logistics.
“The reason we are talking about having an IEBC is because we are afraid of theft,” Hashi told Citizen TV. “Everyone wants to steal votes. I think it’s important we have institutions that speak about the moral basis of citizenship.”
That fear of manipulation isn’t just academic. Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have thrown fuel on the fire with public remarks suggesting election tampering may be part of the plan for 2027.
Tiaty MP William Kamket hinted at backroom schemes to ensure President William Ruto secures a second term. Meanwhile, Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Jehow made even more startling remarks at a past event, saying:
“We are just waiting for the ballot boxes to come and even if we will not have enough votes we will rig for him, and that is no secret.”
Her comments, which sparked public outrage, have added urgency to the debate over the IEBC’s readiness and neutrality.
Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni called on the commission to break with its troubled past.
“At the end of the day, it is the Kenyan people who are the decision-makers, and the IEBC should ensure that the will of the people carries the day,” he said.
But experts warn that achieving that goal won’t be easy if the commission continues relying on manual election processes.
Lawyer and governance expert Steve Ogolla argued that trust will remain elusive unless Kenya can fully adopt electronic transmission of results.
“Manual management of elections poses a great challenge in ensuring credibility,” he noted during the same panel discussion.
Still, the IEBC insists it is prepared to deliver. The commission has promised increased transparency, including real-time results sharing and open tallying centres in future elections.
But promises alone may not be enough to calm the growing unease. For many Kenyans, the ghosts of past elections-marked by violence, court disputes, and claims of vote rigging—still linger. And unless the new team at the helm can rise to the moment, 2027 may risk repeating the same old story.
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