The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed claims of illegal voter registration, unauthorized voter transfers and the registration of foreign nationals ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying the allegations have not been supported by evidence.
IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon said the Commission was concerned about what he described as misleading and unverified information surrounding the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ethekon said the registration exercise was underway across all 290 constituencies and warned that unsubstantiated claims could mislead the public and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
He said allegations of electoral misconduct linked to voter registration and transfers, including claims that foreign nationals were being registered as voters in Kenya and abroad, remained unproven.
According to Ethekon, no individual, organization or group had provided the Commission with credible evidence to substantiate the claims. He, however, said the IEBC would take appropriate action where evidence of wrongdoing is presented, including disciplinary action, criminal investigations and prosecution.
Ethekon also sought to clarify the IEBC’s mandate under Article 88 of the Constitution, saying the Commission is responsible for registering eligible Kenyan citizens as voters and maintaining the Register of Voters.
He noted that the issuance of national identity cards and passports falls under other government agencies responsible for identification, citizenship and immigration.
The chairman said attempts to link the IEBC to the issuance of these documents were therefore misleading and risked creating confusion over the roles of different state institutions.
The Commission said voter registration is governed by the Constitution and electoral laws, with applicants required to present valid identification documents to registration officers at designated registration centres.
Ethekon also dismissed reports suggesting that Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits had been moved from their authorized locations or gone missing.
He said the equipment remained under the custody and control of the Commission and could only be activated by authorized registration officers. Registration clerks, he added, are required to undergo training and work under the supervision of registration officers.
The IEBC said KIEMS kits used during the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted between March 30 and April 28, 2026, were secured at designated police stations and IEBC offices before being returned to the Commission’s warehouses.
The Commission said no KIEMS kit had been reported missing, intercepted or unlawfully moved to unauthorized locations, including outside the country.
Ethekon said the ongoing registration exercise was intended to enable eligible Kenyans with valid identification documents to register as voters. He called for any allegations of illegal registration, voter transfers, favoritism or discrimination to be supported by verifiable evidence.
The IEBC also addressed the participation of Kenyans living abroad, noting that residence outside the country does not remove their constitutional right to participate in elections.
The Commission said diaspora voter registration had expanded from a limited number of countries in the 2013 General Election to 12 countries in 2022. It plans to extend registration to 26 countries ahead of the 2027 election under the second phase of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
Ethekon urged the public, media and other stakeholders to submit credible information on suspected electoral malpractice to the IEBC or the relevant investigative authorities.
He said the Commission would continue providing information on preparations for the 2027 General Election and remain committed to a free, fair, transparent, accountable and verifiable electoral process.
