IEBC raises concern over election environment amid goonism, trust deficit

Speaking during an IEBC–Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) breakfast meeting on Wednesday, stakeholders pointed to growing fears over political violence and the rising influence of money in elections.

Participants at the plenary session flagged what they described as a culture of “goonism,” where politicians allegedly deploy hired groups to advance political agendas, alongside concerns about vote manipulation through financial inducements.

KEPSA representative Vimal Shah noted that Kenya is currently grappling with a significant trust deficit, warning that uncertainty around electoral processes is fueling anxiety among citizens and businesses.

“We are seeing a fear psychosis that is causing widespread concern about the future. There is a need for clarity of rules and a coordinated approach to conflict resolution,” Shah said.

He proposed the formation of a multi-agency taskforce to address electoral tensions, citing fragmentation across institutions as a key challenge.

“The mistrust is too high, and the cost of elections in Kenya remains significantly elevated,” he added.

In response, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon acknowledged the concerns but emphasised that the commission’s mandate on matters such as political violence is limited.

“We have the electoral code of conduct, but it only becomes enforceable once the election period is gazetted and candidates are registered. That is when political actors formally fall under our jurisdiction,” he said.

Ethekon noted that IEBC is operationally prepared for the elections but expressed concern about the broader environment in which the polls will be conducted.

“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 commission offices were previously attacked during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, insisting on the need for public cooperation.

“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 reiterated that the commission has transitioned fully to a biometric system, rendering older manual registers obsolete.

“When IEBC began in 2012, only fingerprints were captured. The law now requires a comprehensive biometric register, including iris and other identifiers. The previous manual register is no longer valid,” he explained.

He urged Kenyans who registered before the biometric system was introduced, particularly those who voted in 2007, to update their details.

“If you have not joined the new biometric register, you need to come forward and register afresh. We want everyone included,” he said.

On the role of technology, including artificial intelligence in elections, Ethekon maintained that any adoption must strictly adhere to existing legal frameworks.

“Even if we are innovative, we cannot implement systems outside what the law provides,” he stated.

He also cautioned against premature declaration of election results by third parties, noting that while results are public and can be independently tallied, only IEBC has the constitutional mandate to declare the president-elect.

“Results are public and Kenyans can collate them, but the declaration of the president remains the mandate of the commission,” he said.