Credibility Questions Haunt IEBC After Mini-Polls
Political parties have intensified pressure on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to urgently fix loopholes that could undermine future elections, following mixed public reactions to recent by-elections.
A December 2025 Infotrak survey shows waning confidence in the mini polls, with only 16 per cent of Kenyans saying the by-elections were credible and just eight per cent describing them as very free and fair.
Nearly a third (31 percent) of respondents were unsure about the integrity of the polls, while 15 per cent said they had no knowledge of them.
National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Augustus Muli said the findings point to deepening public mistrust and warned the IEBC against complacency ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“The IEBC must put its house in order. Elections must be transparent, credible and beyond doubt,” Dr Muli said, describing the November by-elections as poorly managed and uninspiring to voters.
He said his party is strengthening grassroots structures and courting alliances to form a “formidable third force” to challenge dominant political parties in 2027. He accused larger parties of sidelining smaller outfits through undemocratic tactics.
“Democracy thrives on diversity and fair competition,” he said.
The renewed scrutiny comes as civil society groups also push the IEBC to demonstrate independence and efficiency, amid a long history of disputed elections and institutional failures.
Kenya’s electoral bodies have faced repeated criticism, from the disputed 2007 presidential election that sparked deadly violence to the Supreme Court’s nullification of the 2017 presidential vote over irregularities and illegalities.
Persistent technology failures in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 elections, alongside concerns over the voter register—including a 2016 audit that found more than 92,000 deceased voters listed—have continued to dent public confidence.
“The recent mini-polls exposed gaps in preparedness,” Dr Muli said, warning that unresolved issues could compromise future elections.
ligadwah@businessdayafrica.org