NAIROBI, Kenya — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Sunday belatedly confirmed that its voter verification portal had been taken offline for system maintenance, following widespread public concern.
The portal’s sudden unavailability triggered a flurry of reactions on social media, with Kenyans questioning the timing of the move—especially in a politically charged climate and with the 2027 general elections only two years away.
Some accused the Commission of lacking transparency, given that no prior notice had been issued.
In a statement, IEBC reassured the public that the data of all 22 million registered voters remains “intact and secure.”
“The Commission highly regrets any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates your understanding as it works towards serving you better,” the statement read.
Press Release – Scheduled System Maintenance on IEBC Voter Verification Portal Download: bit.ly/4ksBIer #YourVoteYourFuture #TalkWithIEBC
IEBC further explained that the maintenance is part of its ongoing migration to new infrastructure “aimed at enhancing service delivery through improved system performance and security.”
The explanation, however, did little to quell growing public distrust in institutions perceived to be opaque, particularly when electoral processes are involved.
