Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chair Erastus Ethekon has assured Kenyans that the commission will remain open and transparent ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ethekon emphasised the need for collaboration between the commission, political parties, and the media to ensure credible polls.
“There will be by-elections and general elections as scheduled. Elections are not a one-day event; it is a series of events that build up to the final moment,” he said.
Ethekon, who took office less than a month ago, revealed that the IEBC secretariat was already working on an elections plan.
“We are barely three weeks into office and our secretariat is working day and night on the elections plan. We will hold the elections as per the schedule, August 2027, and share the plan soon,” he said.
“We will announce the by-elections in due course,” Ethon added.
He underscored the importance of political dialogue and urged political parties to engage constructively through the commission’s liaison committee.
“As a commission, we will do our bit to have dialogue with political parties, the liaison committee, and political players to discuss how we can manage the election process,” he said.
Ethekon also called on the media to exercise responsibility in reporting, particularly around inflammatory political rhetoric.
“If the media amplifies inflammatory remarks, they will go viral. Why are we giving these people the platform?” he posed.
On inclusion and transparency, the IEBC chair pledged an open-door policy and challenged the media to hold the commission accountable.
He concluded by affirming the commission’s willingness to learn and adapt.
“We do not have solutions for everything as the commission. We are trying to learn, innovate, and take action on good ideas that are coming,” he said.
The 2027 General Elections are scheduled for August, with preparations expected to intensify in the coming months.
IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan urged the media to verify information first before publishing
“ … even under pressure, we must uphold professionalism. We should not compromise elections on cost-cutting but cost optimisation,” he said.
“I have seen what works and what fails when trust is lost. When we work together with transparency and mutual benefit, Kenya’s democracy will win.”
In July, the IEBC appealed to political leaders, urging them to refrain from making statements that could undermine public trust and confidence in Kenya's electoral process.
The commission expressed deep concern over recent remarks touching on alleged election malpractice, emphasising that such utterances are not only reckless but pose a threat to democratic principles.
“The IEBC assures members of the public and stakeholders that it shall safeguard its independence and impartiality while discharging its constitutional mandate,” the commission stated.
The statement follows controversial comments by Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Abdi Jehow, who reportedly claimed that political leaders from the North Eastern region were prepared to rig the 2027 General Elections.
Her remarks sparked public outrage and condemnation from several quarters.
