IEBC dismisses 2027 poll-rigging claims as 'reckless and baseless'

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed as “reckless” and “baseless” claims by some political actors alleging plans to influence the outcome of the 2027 General Election through extra-legal means.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the utterances risk distorting public perception of Kenya’s democratic processes and eroding confidence in the country’s electoral system.

He warned that such utterances also paint the commission as weak, compromised or susceptible to outside influence.

“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,” Ethekon stated.

"These utterances, which have elicited considerable disquiet within the electoral environment, pose a real risk of distorting public perception of Kenya’s democratic processes. IEBC considers such utterances to be unacceptable, reckless, and entirely baseless."

He added: "Of particular concern are assertions suggesting that the IEBC is weak, compromised, or susceptible to external influence. 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."

Ethekon thus urged Kenyans to refrain from amplifying such claims, insisting that the responsibility of conducting and supervising elections is exclusively vested in the commission under Article 88 of the Constitution.

The commission boss maintained that Kenya has built a vibrant democracy over time that is anchored in the rule of law, warning leaders against making inflammatory statements relating to vote-rigging or voter manipulation.

He also clarified the current legal position regarding the Electoral Code of Conduct, noting that the code is not presently operational since no election has been declared.

IEBC added that it would engage relevant authorities for appropriate action.

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

“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."

The commission further called on leaders and citizens to respect institutional independence as guaranteed under the Constitution and work collectively to strengthen trust in the electoral process.

At the same time, IEBC encouraged eligible Kenyans to register as voters through the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise being conducted at constituency offices, Huduma Centres and the Customer Care Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.

“The Commission reiterates its unwavering commitment to upholding its constitutional mandate. IEBC remains fully dedicated to delivering a 2027 General Election that will be free, fair and credible in accordance with the laws of Kenya and international best practices,” he added.