IEBC urges Kenyans to give new team a chance, citing historic distrust in elections
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has urged Kenyans to give the new commission a chance, stressing that public distrust in elections is not a new phenomenon.
Speaking on Monday, Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana said scepticism over electoral processes has deep historical roots and cannot be attributed solely to the current team.
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“The issue of trust is historical, dating back to the 1992 multi-party elections and cannot be attributed to this commission alone. Let’s not be tied to our past bad experiences and stifle a commission that is here to bring fresh air. Give us a chance,” Mukhwana said in an interview with Citizen TV.
He added that efforts to strengthen the electoral system should address long-standing structural challenges rather than focus only on personnel changes.
To improve voter convenience, Mukhwana revealed plans to deploy four voting kits in every constituency.
“Two to reduce congestion and another two open kits to allow voters to cast their ballot in a different location while remaining in their home constituency,” he said.
The IEBC has faced criticism in the past over logistical delays, long queues and technical challenges with electronic voter identification systems. Mukhwana said the new arrangement could increase accessibility for youth, urban workers and Kenyans in the diaspora returning home to vote.
Mukhwana had recently addressed concerns over the impartiality of commissioners, acknowledging that some citizens link commissioners to political figures due to prior professional interactions.
“Some lines have been traced linking us to certain political figures. They argue that because we have worked with these leaders, we cannot be impartial,” he said.
He clarified that previous professional engagements do not disqualify commissioners.
“We live in this country, and the Constitution does not bar anyone from holding a position simply because they have interacted with someone in leadership,” he added.
He urged critics to evaluate the commission’s performance based on its work.
“Let us give this commission a chance and only criticise it later if we see it has mistakes; let us not judge it based on what happened in the past," he said.
The remarks come as the IEBC begins a nationwide voter registration exercise on Monday, September 29, 2025, ahead of the 2027 General Election. Mukhwana assured Kenyans of a credible process, highlighting new measures to improve accuracy and transparency.
“We are capturing the eyes of new voters as an improvement of electoral processes to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the voters,” he said.
The IEBC said the exercise allows new voters to register, residents who have moved to update their details and all citizens to verify their voter information.
Eligible voters must be Kenyan citizens aged 18 and above and present either a valid national ID card or a Kenyan passport, as stipulated in Article 83 of the Constitution.
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