IEBC dismisses claims of 2027 election manipulation

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has dismissed claims by political actors suggesting they could influence the outcome of the 2027 General Election through extra-legal means, terming the remarks reckless, misleading and dangerous to the country’s democratic stability.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, IEBC said the utterances undermined public confidence in the electoral process and distorted perception of Kenya’s democracy ahead of the next General Election.

The commission said the remarks had created unnecessary anxiety in the electoral environment, even though no election has been declared.

“IEBC considers such utterances to be unacceptable, reckless, and entirely baseless,” the commission said.

The electoral body warned that repeated claims of planned election manipulation could mislead Kenyans and erode trust in institutions charged with managing elections.

“The utterances are clearly intended to instil fear, mislead the public and erode confidence in the integrity of the electoral system,” IEBC said, urging Kenyans to ignore and avoid amplifying such statements.

The commission reiterated that the constitutional mandate to conduct and supervise elections rests solely with the IEBC under Article 88 of the Constitution and cannot be shared or assumed by any political actor or institution.

IEBC chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said Kenya had, over the years, built a credible and resilient democratic system anchored in the rule of law, warning leaders against making inflammatory statements that could weaken public trust in electoral institutions.

“Kenya’s leadership bears a responsibility to safeguard these gains and must therefore refrain from making unverified, inflammatory or misleading statements relating to vote-rigging or voter manipulation,” the commission said.

IEBC also took issue with assertions portraying the commission as weak or compromised.

“Such claims are not only false and misleading but also deeply disrespectful to the institution and the constitutional role it plays in safeguarding the sovereign will of the people,” the commission stated.

At the same time, the electoral body clarified that the Electoral Code of Conduct is currently not operational because the country is not within an election period.

The commission cited the Supreme Court decision in the Sabina Chege Supreme Court Petition No. 23 (E026) of 2022 case, which affirmed that IEBC only exercises jurisdiction under the Electoral Code of Conduct during an election period.

“Notably, the IEBC has not declared any elections. Further, no publication of the 2027 General Election has been made to warrant the current wave of premature and irresponsible utterances,” the commission said.

IEBC said it would engage relevant authorities for appropriate action against individuals making irresponsible claims capable of undermining confidence in electoral processes.

The commission further called on political leaders and citizens to respect institutional independence and work collectively towards strengthening democracy and public trust.

“It is time political actors stopped hoodwinking the public that the election will be rigged and instead start embracing the steps set out on the country’s preparedness to conduct the 2027 General Election,” IEBC said.

The commission also urged eligible Kenyans to register as voters through the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise being conducted at constituency offices, Huduma Centres and the customer care centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.

IEBC reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a free, fair and credible election in 2027 in line with the Constitution, Kenyan laws and international best practices.