IEBC must rein in early campaigns to avoid heightened political tensions -LSK

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has challenged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to take immediate action against early political campaigns, warning that failure to do so could heighten political tensions and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, LSK President Faith Odhiambo said the Commission must act swiftly to reassert its authority and uphold neutrality by stopping premature campaigns from both the government and the opposition.

“You would imagine there’s an election happening in this country just a few months from now… And I think those are some of the issues the new commission must grapple with and begin to address,” she said on Tuesday night.

Odhiambo cautioned that unless the IEBC acts decisively, the country will remain in a highly charged political state, with both sides feeling justified in their campaign.

“If they do not crack the whip, they will fail to depoliticise the current environment in the country. Because when you have a government actively campaigning, the opposition will inevitably do the same,” she explained.

The LSK President stressed the need for a firm and impartial referee to regulate political conduct ahead of the 2027 elections. “There has to be a referee to say, ‘no more campaigns during this period’.”

While acknowledging criticism directed at some of the new commissioners, she said the focus should now shift to monitoring their performance and holding them accountable.

“I would say they have a hard task ahead. Whatever rhetoric has been directed against them or regarding their past cases, now that they are commissioners, we should concentrate on how to hold them accountable and the work before them,” she said.

Public confidence

Odhiambo said one of the IEBC’s top priorities must be restoring faith in the electoral system, particularly among younger Kenyans who feel disconnected from political processes.

“I believe they have a huge responsibility to restore public confidence, especially among Gen Zs, by showing that the system can work and that they can deliver a free, fair and credible election. That should be their main priority.”

She called for a clear and timely roadmap for election preparations, noting that time is limited.

“They only have two years. They must create a roadmap detailing how they intend to roll out election management plans,” she said.

Odhiambo also expressed concern over the delay in boundary delimitation, urging the IEBC to clarify its plans given the time constraints.

“It’s now 13 years since the last boundary review. They must decide whether to go to court to seek permission to proceed, or clarify if it’s no longer feasible within the remaining time.”

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She welcomed the IEBC’s promise to introduce electoral reform bills but stressed that proposals must address critical gaps in campaign financing, voter registration, and civic education.

“There’s a need to implement and review campaign financing legislation. Then there’s the bigger issue of voter registration and concerns about the distribution of votes across regions following the last census. Civic education is another area where the IEBC has largely fallen short, yet it plays a crucial role in helping voters understand their rights,” she noted.

Odhiambo reminded the Commission that all general elections since 2013 have ended up in court, warning that without learning from past rulings, the risk of disputed results remains high.

“There are proposals for several amendments to the Elections Act and issues raised by the Supreme Court, such as the timeframes for resolving electoral disputes, which remain unresolved,” she said.

She insisted that the IEBC cannot prepare for the 2027 elections alone and called on all arms of government to offer support, particularly through legal reforms and sufficient funding.

“Two years may sound like a long time, but it’s very short to set up the entire electoral machinery. The Judiciary, Parliament, Executive, independent offices and security agencies must also step up and support the process,” she said.

She urged MPs to ensure the IEBC receives adequate funding, possibly through a supplementary budget, to facilitate early planning.

“We need Parliament to provide sufficient funding. Given the time constraints, I’m not sure if this was included in this year’s budget or if it will require a supplementary budget, but it should be a top priority,” she added.