NAIROBI, Kenya — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has warned that rising political tension, mistrust, and organised intimidation could undermine the credibility of upcoming elections.
The concerns emerged during an IEBC–Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) breakfast meeting on Wednesday. Stakeholders cited growing fears over political violence and the influence of money in elections.
Participants at the plenary flagged what they termed a culture of “goonism.”
They said politicians allegedly deploy hired groups to influence political outcomes. They also raised concerns over vote manipulation through financial inducements.
KEPSA representative Vimal Shah said the country is facing a deep trust deficit.
He warned that uncertainty around electoral processes is driving anxiety among citizens and investors.
“We are seeing a fear psychosis that is causing widespread concern about the future,” Shah said.
“There is a need for clarity of rules and a coordinated approach to conflict resolution.”
He proposed forming a multi-agency task force to address electoral tensions. He said fragmentation among institutions has weakened responses to emerging risks.
“The mistrust is too high, and the cost of elections in Kenya remains significantly elevated,” he added.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon acknowledged the concerns but clarified the commission’s legal limits.
He said IEBC can only enforce the electoral code once the election period is formally gazetted.
“We have the electoral code of conduct, but it becomes enforceable once candidates are registered,” he said. “That is when political actors fall under our jurisdiction.”
Ethekon said the commission is operationally ready for the polls. However, he raised concerns about the broader political climate.
“Operationally, we are fine. What we are worried about is the environment in which we will hold the election. Will it be peaceful?” he posed.
He revealed that some IEBC offices were attacked during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. He called for public cooperation to safeguard electoral processes.
“We are offering a service to facilitate Kenyans in exercising their democratic right. It should not be made difficult,” he said.
On voter registration, Ethekon said the commission has fully adopted a biometric system. He noted that older manual registers are no longer valid under current law.
“When IEBC began in 2012, only fingerprints were captured,” he said.
“The law now requires a comprehensive biometric register, including iris and other identifiers.”
He urged Kenyans who registered before the biometric upgrade to update their details. This includes voters who participated in the 2007 elections.
“If you have not joined the new biometric register, you need to come forward and register afresh,” he said.
Ethekon also addressed the role of emerging technologies in elections. He said innovations such as artificial intelligence must comply with existing legal frameworks.
“Even if we are innovative, we cannot implement systems outside what the law provides,” he said.
He further cautioned against premature declaration of election results by third parties.
While results are publicly accessible, he said only IEBC has the constitutional mandate to declare the president-elect.
“Results are public and Kenyans can collate them,” he said. “But the declaration of the president remains the mandate of the commission.”
The meeting underscored growing concern among institutions and the private sector over electoral preparedness.
It also highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to ensure a peaceful and credible election environment.
