IEBC Chairperson Hints At Critical Irregularities in 2027 Polls

IEBC Chairperson Hints At Critical Irregularities in 2027 Polls

Erastus Ethekon, head of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), has stated that the electoral agency is facing a cash shortage as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.

In an interview with KBC, Ethekon cautioned that budget cuts could jeopardize the deployment of technology and sufficient personnel to oversee the elections, exposing the polls to critical vulnerabilities.

The IEBC chairman stated that Parliament’s move to reduce the commission’s intended Sh61 billion budget jeopardizes critical preparations.

This included the replacement of old Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits.

He warned that insufficient technology and a shortage of crucial workers could render the commission unable to ensure the efficiency and security of core systems that handle voter identification and results transmission.

“Reducing the resources we need will definitely have a big impact on the elections,” Ethekon said.

“When you look at the breakdown of the budget, a huge part of it was dedicated to the deployment of the personnel who will oversee the elections.”

Adding, “If you reduce the budget, it will affect the level of deployment.”

He stated that approximately 53% of the election budget goes on staffing, which includes officers at polling stations and the national counting center.

The commission sent almost 500,000 staff for the 2022 General Elections, which he believes will be difficult to manage with limited resources.

Ethekon also voiced concern about the status of the KIEMS kits, noting that numerous devices purchased for earlier elections had already become obsolete.

With the next elections projected to rely even more heavily on technology, he warned that failure to upgrade the system could cause operational issues.

“Our elections are largely technology-driven. The kits that we bought for the 2013 and 2017 elections, some became obsolete, and so we need to buy new kits with more advanced technology,” he explained.

The KIEMS platform brings together Biometric Voter Registration (BVR), Electronic Voter Identification (EVID), and the Electronic Results Transmission System (ERTS).

According to Ethekon, any disruption in these components, whether caused by old gear or a lack of technical support, might hinder or undermine the election process.

His warning highlights the mounting pressure for Parliament and the Treasury to close the financial shortfall ahead of the high-stakes 2027 elections.

Aside from finances, the chairman expressed worries about recent legislation changes that transferred prosecutorial authorities for electoral violations from the IEBC to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

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He cautioned that unresolved investigations and perceived impunity could erode public trust.

“Under the Election Offenses Act, IEBC previously had the power to prosecute, and it worked efficiently because accountability was directly enforced,” he said.

“However, after legal changes, the ODPP now handles these cases. This puts us at a disadvantage, as most cases remain unsolved, potentially giving Kenyans the impression of impunity.”

Despite the hurdles, the commission has already begun planning for the 2027 General Elections, including Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) throughout the country.

IEBC Chairperson Hints At Critical Irregularities in 2027 Polls