IEBC flags as fake calims of deregistering 2 million ghost voters

Ballot boxes during a past election

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has flagged as false a viral social media post claiming the commission is set to purge over two million ghost voters from its register ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a statement issued via X, the electoral agency distanced itself from the circulating message, which was falsely attributed to incoming IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon.

The post had claimed that counties such as Kiambu, Meru, Nairobi, and Nyeri were home to the highest number of so-called ghost voters.

“Please note that the commission currently neither has a chairperson nor members of the commission. Therefore, any information circulating on social media is null and void,” IEBC stated, dismissing the claims as fake and misleading.

The post alleged that a voter register audit was already underway and attributed the move to the incoming leadership under Ethekon.

However, IEBC clarified that no such activity has commenced and reiterated that the commission remains without a substantive chairperson and commissioners.

President William Ruto gazetted the appointment of Ethekon as IEBC chairperson on June 10, alongside six new commissioners.

This was despite a conservatory order issued on May 29 that halted their official gazettement and swearing-in.

The High Court issued the interim orders in response to a petition by activists Boniface Mwangi and Kelvin Roy Omondi, who questioned the legality and transparency of the selection process.

While Parliament had been allowed to proceed with vetting, the court expressly prohibited any formal appointment until the case is heard and determined.

The IEBC vacuum continues as the state grapples with contempt of court allegations stemming from the gazettement.

However, on June 24, the court declined to hold President Ruto in contempt, noting that those accused of violating court orders are entitled to a fair hearing before any sanctions can be imposed.

As it stands, the IEBC remains inoperative at the commissioner level, with no legally recognised chairperson or commissioners in office.

The situation has raised concerns over the commission’s preparedness to undertake critical electoral reforms, including any future audit or update of the voter register with the elections barely two years away.

The commission has urged members of the public to rely on official communication channels for accurate updates and to refrain from spreading unverified information.