Electoral reform group piles pressure on IEBC ahead of 2027 polls

Former Chief Justice David Maraga. [File Courtesy]

A new multi-stakeholder coalition has piled pressure on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), demanding sweeping electoral reforms before the 2027 General Election to restore public confidence in a process that remains dogged by controversy over technology, procurement and the integrity of the voters’ register.

The People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms, led by ex-Chief Justice David Maraga and launched during a press briefing in Nairobi on Tuesday, said Kenya could not afford another election whose credibility is contested after ballots are cast.

The coalition wants IEBC to decentralise presidential results transmission, demanding the abolishment of the national tallying centre and that the presidential results be declared at the constituency level.

They said the IEBC chairperson should only declare the cumulative presidential outcome based on results already declared at polling stations and constituencies.

“Kenya cannot afford another election whose credibility is contested after ballots are cast,” said Maraga, warning that the disputed 2007/2008 election and ensuing violence remained a national warning that must not be repeated.

“There shall be no national tallying centre by the IEBC or the Chairperson of the Commission at Bomas or elsewhere, to alter or re-verify results already declared at the polling stations or at the 290 constituencies,” he said.

The demand comes against the backdrop of lingering public mistrust in Kenya’s electoral management system, with the 2017 presidential election annulment and the legal challenges surrounding the 2022 election continuing to shape perceptions of IEBC.

The coalition also wants a comprehensive audit of the voters’ register and biometric data by an internationally reputable independent auditor, followed by public inspection and verification.

It accused IEBC of failing to fully implement previous recommendations on the voters’ register, arguing that the current register could not be considered sufficiently credible without an independent audit.

“Dead voters, ghost voters must be weeded off,” said former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, demanding that all registered voters be allowed to verify their biometric details for at least six months before the election.

The coalition wants the five-part register provided for under the Elections Act to be published online, with physical and digital inspection conducted under data protection safeguards.

It has set February 2027 as the deadline for IEBC to have a cleaned-up register and April 10 for completion of public inspection and verification.

Technology procurement emerged as another major battleground, with the group asking the electoral body to halt and revise its ongoing election technology procurement, arguing that the system should be modular rather than dependent on a single vendor.

They raised concerns about the procurement of voter registration, biometric identification, results transmission, candidate management and hardware under one three-year framework, arguing that such bundling could create excessive dependence on one supplier.

It wants IEBC to publish its election technology policy, system requirements, procurement specifications and deployment plan, alongside an independent audit of the architecture and source-code deposit with a neutral escrow agent.

"The said audit should be preceded by a comprehensive and public disclosure by the IEBC on the status of continuous registration of voters per Constituency, County and diversity profile to ensure inclusion and equality in ongoing registration of voters," said Muturi

“Transparency that begins before procurement award, not after a dispute forces it."

The technology demands come at a particularly sensitive moment for IEBC, which is under pressure to complete major electoral preparations while navigating procurement disputes. 

It also wants all KIEMS kits to be functional, backed by reliable power and connectivity, with biometric identification mandatory for every voter. Polling stations should be geo-referenced and equipped with tested internet connectivity, including backup satellite links.

Beyond technology, the coalition wants the Commission to tighten the integrity of its personnel and administrative processes. It is demanding competitive recruitment of returning officers and county election managers, publication of shortlists and independent multi-party oversight of vetting.

The group also wants an independent multi-party audit of ballot-paper printing and materials, with extra ballot papers capped at 10 per cent and all printed materials serialised.

The coalition said the reforms were not merely political demands but constitutional requirements intended to protect every participant in the election.

“There is no democratic legitimacy in asking Kenyans to vote first and negotiate the credibility of the process afterwards,” said Sabori lawmaker Caleb Amisi.

The group has set September 30, 2026, as the deadline for publication of IEBC’s technology policy and procurement specifications, while several legislative and administrative reforms should be completed by November 30.

The coalition said its campaign would bring together political parties, civil society organisations, faith leaders, professional associations, youth and women’s groups to push for implementation of the reforms.

Its intervention adds to growing scrutiny of IEBC as the country moves towards the 2027 elections, with the commission facing the difficult task of rebuilding public trust while simultaneously preparing the electoral infrastructure, personnel, register and technology needed for the polls.

“Kenya must invest in electoral peace before the election, not reconciliation after electoral failure,” said the coalition.