IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon. /FILEIndependent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) chairperson Erastus Ethekon has revealed that the electoral agency is grappling with inadequate funding as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on KBC Tuesday morning, Ethekon warned that budget cuts could compromise the deployment of technology and sufficient personnel to oversee the elections, exposing the polls to key vulnerabilities.
The IEBC boss said Parliament’s decision to slash the commission’s proposed Sh61 billion budget threatens essential preparations, including replacement of outdated Kenya Integrated Elections Management system (KIEMS) kits.
He cautioned that insufficient technology and lack of enough critical staff could leave the commission unable to guarantee the efficiency and security of core systems that manage voter identification and results transmission.
“Reducing the resources we need will definitely have a big impact on the elections. When you look at the breakdown of the budget, a huge part of it was dedicated to the deployment of the personnel who will oversee the elections. If you reduce the budget, it will affect the level of deployment,” Ethekon said.
He noted that about 53 per cent of the election budget goes to staffing, including officers at polling stations and at the national tallying centre.
In the 2022 General Elections, the commission deployed more than 500,000 personnel, a level he says may be difficult to maintain with diminished resources.
Ethekon further expressed concern over the state of the KIEMS kits, warning that several devices acquired for previous elections have already become obsolete.
With the next polls expected to rely even more heavily on technology, he said failing to upgrade the system could expose the process to operational hitches.
“Our elections are largely technology-driven. The kits that we bought for the 2013 and 2017 elections, some became obsolete, and so we need to buy new kits with more advanced technology,” he explained.
The KIEMS platform integrates Biometric Voter Registration (BVR), Electronic Voter Identification (EVID) and the Electronic Results Transmission System (ERTS).
According to Ethekon, any disruption in these components, whether due to outdated hardware or insufficient technical support, could slow or undermine the electoral process.
His warning signals growing urgency for Parliament and the Treasury to address the funding gap ahead of the high-stakes 2027 polls.
Beyond funding, the chairperson also raised concerns about recent legal changes that transferred prosecutorial powers for electoral offences from the IEBC to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
He warned that unresolved cases and perceived impunity could further weaken public trust.
“Under the Election Offenses Act, IEBC previously had the power to prosecute, and it worked efficiently because accountability was directly enforced,” he said.
“However, after legal changes, the ODPP now handles these cases. This puts us at a disadvantage, as most cases remain unsolved, potentially giving Kenyans the impression of impunity.”
Despite the challenges, the commission has already begun preparations for the 2027 General Elections, including ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) across the country.
Ethekon urged Kenyans to register as voters while emphasising that a credible election requires adequate investment in both personnel and technology.
The voter resgistration is temporarily suspended in areas slated for by-elections on November 27.
On Monday, the commission's Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee sat and heard four complaints arising from the upcoming by-election in Kasipul constituency.
The committee delivered its ruling on the complaint regarding much-reported violence associated with campaigns within the constituency and issued specific orders.
It directed all the candidates for the Kasipul by-election to abide by the harmonised campaign schedule which was agreed upon in the presence of all candidates.
The committee said should there be any reported clashes arising from failure to adhere to the harmonised campaign schedule, it will not hesitate to exercise its powers as provided under paragraph 7 of the Second Schedule of the Elections Act, Cap 7.
The committee said it would issue the reasoned decision in the matters on Tuesday, November 18.
"The committee is keen on according all the candidates participating in the by-election a level playing field and that the candidates can campaign without fear and intimidation."
