The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has called on the United Nations Electoral Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to provide early and targeted support in preparation for Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
The Commission emphasised the urgency of addressing emerging digital threats and strengthening institutional capacity to safeguard electoral integrity.
Speaking during a high-level consultative meeting in Nairobi, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon urged the UN team to engage proactively and avoid late-stage interventions.
“We should involve all players in the electoral process to ensure everyone plays their role. I call upon the UN NAM team to support the Commission early enough and not to wait to come on board close to the 2027 general elections,” Ethekon said.
The meeting brought together senior IEBC officials and the UN delegation led by the Principal Electoral Advisor at the UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) Akinyemi Adegbola.
The engagement focused on aligning Kenya’s electoral priorities with international support mechanisms to ensure credible, inclusive, and secure elections.
“The journey of building credible electoral systems is both complex and continuous. But with your partnership, we are better positioned to uphold the democratic aspirations of the Kenyan people,” Ethekon said.
In particular, the Commission sought technology support to counter emerging digital threats such as AI-generated deepfakes, misinformation, and disinformation.
Ethokon emphasised the need for proactive engagement, citing priorities such as youth inclusion, strategic communication, and digital monitoring to safeguard electoral integrity, with a focus on countering digital threats and strengthening institutional capacity.
IEBC also requested assistance in building the capacity of its teams responsible for digital monitoring, strategic communication, and public information.
Chairperson Ethekon noted that since their appointment, the Commission had taken deliberate steps to establish operational clarity, strengthen institutional structures, and build stakeholder confidence.
The UN team pledged to review and strategically align its assistance based on Kenya’s evolving electoral needs, with emphasis on early planning and stakeholder coordination.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Tuesday met with the Adegbola-led delegation to reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, and peaceful 2027 General Election.
The meeting, held at Mudavadi’s Railways office, followed a formal request by Ethekon for UN support in assessing Kenya’s electoral preparedness.
Mudavadi emphasised that the Government will uphold the independence of the IEBC while supporting its operations, and urged the UN team to consider the growing influence of technology, social media, and artificial intelligence on electoral processes.
He called for early engagement and inclusive participation from all stakeholders, including civil society, faith-based organisations, and the judiciary.
Adegbola confirmed the UN’s readiness to begin the assessment, noting that Kenya’s evolving electoral needs now require targeted support rather than logistical involvement.
