Experts question IEBC credibility amid 2027 elections rigging claims

New commissioners led by chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon formally took up their assignments at the IEBC headquarters on July 11, but they still face the challenges that have been dogging the electoral body.

They will start by managing the upcoming 20 by-elections around the nation as they gear up for the Presidential polls in 2027.

Political analyst Ahmed Hashi said on Monday that the new commissioners should tackle the deeply rooted vice of election rigging that has been the root of political clamor in every administration.

"The reason we are talking about having an IEBC is because we are afraid of theft, everyone wants to steal votes. I think it is important we have institutions that speak about the moral basis of citizenship," he told Citizen TV.

Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni said that the electoral commission should build public trust by showing transparency and changing how elections have been conducted in previous cycles.

"At the end of the day, it is the Kenyan people who are the decision-makers, and the IEBC should ensure that the will of the people carries the day," Senator Omogeni added.

Appearing in the same panel, Steve Ogolla said that the manual management of elections poses a great challenge in ensuring credibility as onboarding electronic transmission of election results has been an uphill task.

This comes after Tiaty Member of Parliament William Kamket hinted at electoral manipulation in 2027, saying that there will be a plan to secure President William Ruto's re-election.

Wajir Woman representative Fatuma Jehow also brazenly revealed in a past event that there will be a stuffing of ballots in 2027 in President Ruto's favour.

"We are just waiting for the ballot boxes to come and even if we will not have enough votes we will rig for him, and that is no secret," she said.