NAIROBI, Kenya – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is proposing a shared national broadcast signal for presidential election results in 2027 to combat misinformation and restore public trust in the electoral process.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with media stakeholders in Nairobi, IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan said the lack of coordinated results reporting during the 2022 general election led to widespread confusion and conflicting tallies that undermined confidence in the final outcome.
“Can we align better this time? Can we explore the possibility of a shared broadcast signal from a central results hub?” posed Marjan. “Misinformation and disinformation continue to spread rapidly across platforms, and we must address them head-on.”
Media as Co-Guardians of Democracy
Marjan emphasized that the media are not merely observers, but co-guardians of democratic integrity.
“You inform, you question, you hold us to account,” he told editors and senior journalists. “This is more than a meeting—it’s a reset, a renewal of a vital partnership.”
He acknowledged achievements in the 2022 electoral cycle, including the accreditation of nearly 6,000 journalists, real-time media updates, dedicated media centres, and training support.
However, he noted persistent challenges such as:
- Disjointed results reporting
- Rampant misinformation on social media
- Operational disruptions at tallying centres
- Delayed accreditation
- Budgetary limits in voter education outreach
“One incorrect tweet can trigger panic. Fake news may sell, but it undermines democracy,” Marjan warned.
Ethekon: “Vote Stealing in 2027 Will Be Almost Impossible”
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon reaffirmed the commission’s independence and reassured the public about the credibility of the upcoming polls.
“Going forward to 2027, I don’t think there will be vote stealing,” he said. “It is almost impossible. But if there are loopholes, point them out so we can seal them.”
Ethekon added that the commission is working with the Attorney General’s office to draft a law to curb premature campaigns, which have already begun in parts of the country.
Editors Urge Stronger Protections for Journalists
Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) President Zubeida Kananu welcomed the IEBC’s push for stronger collaboration but raised alarm over growing political intolerance and threats to press freedom.
“We are deeply concerned about escalating political intolerance—rallies disrupted by hired goons, the normalisation of hate speech, and a troubling lack of accountability,” she said.
Kananu called on the IEBC to work with law enforcement agencies to protect journalists and safeguard civic space.
She also urged immediate action on longstanding issues like the absence of a centralized media tallying centre, rising resource constraints in newsrooms, and the need for real-time access to accurate results data.
“We must address these gaps now—not in the heat of the election,” she warned.
