The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission strongly condemned recent claims by political actors suggesting that the 2027 presidential election could be manipulated through extra-legal means, terming the remarks reckless, baseless and dangerous to public confidence in the country’s democracy.
In a statement issued by chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, the commission said the utterances had created unnecessary anxiety within the electoral environment and risked misleading Kenyans about the integrity of the electoral process.
The commission said the remarks were intended to instill fear, mislead the public and erode confidence in the electoral system, urging Kenyans to ignore and avoid amplifying such claims.
IEBC reiterated that the responsibility of conducting and supervising elections is solely vested in the commission under Article 88 of the Constitution and cannot be taken over by any individual, institution or political actor.
The electoral body said Kenya had built a resilient and credible democratic system anchored in the rule of law and warned leaders against making inflammatory and unverified statements about vote rigging or voter manipulation.
Of particular concern, according to the commission, were claims portraying IEBC as weak, compromised or susceptible to external influence.
The commission termed such assertions false, misleading and disrespectful to the constitutional role of the electoral body in protecting the sovereign will of the people.
IEBC also clarified the current legal position regarding the Electoral Code of Conduct, noting that the code is not presently operational because the commission only acquires jurisdiction under it during an official election period.
The commission cited the Supreme Court judgment in the Sabina Chege Supreme Court Petition No. 23 (E026) of 2022 as affirming that legal position.
It further noted that no election has been declared and that there has been no official publication concerning the 2027 General Election to justify what it described as premature and irresponsible political rhetoric.
The commission said it would engage relevant authorities for appropriate action and urged political leaders to stop misleading the public with claims that elections would be rigged.
Instead, IEBC called on leaders and stakeholders to focus on preparations aimed at ensuring a credible 2027 General Election while respecting institutional independence guaranteed under the Constitution.
The commission also appealed to Kenyans to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise at constituency offices, Huduma Centres and the customer care centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.
IEBC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its independence, impartiality and constitutional mandate as the country prepares for the next General Election.
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