NAIROBI, Kenya – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has urged the United Nations Electoral Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to provide early and targeted support for Kenya’s 2027 General Election, citing the need to strengthen institutional capacity and counter digital threats.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said timely engagement from international partners would be key to safeguarding the credibility of the electoral process amid emerging risks such as misinformation, disinformation, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven manipulation.
Speaking during a high-level consultative meeting in Nairobi, Ethekon urged the UN team to avoid late interventions and instead work closely with the Commission in the early stages of election preparation.
“We should involve all players in the electoral process to ensure everyone plays their role. I call upon the UN NAM team to support the Commission early enough and not to wait to come on board close to the 2027 general elections,” he said.
The meeting brought together senior IEBC officials and a UN delegation led by Akinyemi Adegbola, the Principal Electoral Advisor at the UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD).
Discussions focused on aligning Kenya’s electoral priorities with international support frameworks to deliver credible, inclusive, and secure polls.
Ethekon said the IEBC was prioritising youth inclusion, strategic communication, and digital monitoring, all aimed at ensuring electoral transparency.
He noted that since their appointment, the new Commission had made progress in strengthening operational clarity, institutional structures, and stakeholder confidence.
The Commission is seeking UN support in areas such as capacity-building for teams responsible for digital surveillance, public information, and communication strategy.
Adegbola affirmed the UN’s readiness to begin the electoral needs assessment, saying the organisation’s focus would now be on targeted support rather than logistical involvement.
Earlier, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi met the UN delegation at his Railways office, where he reiterated Kenya’s commitment to holding a transparent, credible, and peaceful 2027 General Election.
Mudavadi said the Government would continue to uphold the independence of the IEBC while facilitating its operations, urging the UN to consider the growing influence of technology, social media, and artificial intelligence on modern elections.
“Early engagement and inclusive participation from all stakeholders — including civil society, faith-based organisations, and the judiciary — are critical for credible elections,” Mudavadi said.
