The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has released its final assessment of the November 27, 2025, by-elections, noting that while polling-day operations were largely smooth, issues such as political interference, voter inducement, misuse of resources, and gaps in security oversight affected the overall electoral environment.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, ELOG said the by-elections, held across 22 electoral areas, revealed persistent challenges in Kenya’s electoral context that technical efficiency alone could not address.
The group urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to acknowledge its role in safeguarding the broader political climate in which the by-elections were conducted.
“What we saw in the pre-election phase indicated interference that, if unaddressed, could affect voters’ choices,” the group said, stressing that credible elections require more than technical preparedness.
ELOG noted that the early deployment of long-term observers helped identify vulnerabilities before election day, allowing timely alerts to electoral actors.
These by-elections marked the first major test for the commission’s new leadership since the 2022 General Election.
While logistical preparations were largely adequate, ELOG said the broader electoral environment raised concerns about the fairness of the process.
Ahead of the polls, long-term observers were deployed in Baringo, Embu, Machakos, Kajiado, Narok, Kakamega, Homa Bay, and Nairobi to monitor the pre-election environment, political conduct, and readiness of IEBC and security agencies.
On election day, 100 trained roving observers monitored the opening, voting, closing, and counting processes across multiple stations.
Polling stations generally opened on time, KIEMS kits functioned with minimal disruption, and ballot handling during counting was largely transparent.
“The technical execution on election day was generally sound and aligned with legal requirements,” ELOG stated.
However, observers documented incidents of violence, intimidation, and inducement during the campaign period and on polling day, raising concerns about electoral fairness.
Clashes were reported in Kasipul, Malava, Mbeere North, Nairobi, and Machakos.
In Kariobangi North, observers reported being harassed by a crowd demanding money while blocking their vehicle.
The group also reported widespread voter inducement through money and other items, which are prohibited under the Constitution and the Elections Offences Act.
Misuse of public resources by officials was highlighted as another concern.
Observers noted instances where senior government officials participated in public events during the campaign period, which blurred the line between governance and political activity.
ELOG said such involvement can create pressure on the electorate and affect perceptions of fairness.
The group’s media monitoring team also flagged a surge in political misinformation, including false opinion polls, forged documents, and manipulated images.
About 36% of the disinformation was directed at IEBC, particularly regarding voter registration and polling station changes in flood-affected areas.
Operational irregularities at polling stations were noted, including breaches of ballot secrecy in 15.2% of stations, assisted voting without proper documentation in some cases, and the presence of unaccredited individuals at certain polling stations.
Post-results, the period remained largely calm, with losing candidates pursuing legal challenges rather than protests, which ELOG described as a positive sign for the rule of law.
While acknowledging IEBC’s technical competence on election day, ELOG stressed that political interference, misuse of resources, and misinformation weakened the integrity of the by-elections.
The group issued recommendations for IEBC, security agencies, political parties, and citizens.
These included strengthening enforcement of ballot secrecy, maintaining records of assisted voters, improving communication during elections, enforcing accountability for misconduct, and encouraging active citizen engagement in safeguarding democratic processes.
“Elections must be free from violence, intimidation, and undue interference,” ELOG said.
“Without corrective action, trust in Kenya’s electoral system could continue to decline.”
