The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner, Anne Nderitu, has urged Kenyans to trust the electoral body and take part in the voting process, as questions over the credibility of the 2027 General Election continue to rise.

Speaking while in Nyeri, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Nderitu said elections do not belong to the commission alone but to the people.

“One thing that we have agreed is that the election is not for IEBC alone. Election is for the people. It’s actually Kenyans who come out on election day to vote for their leaders,” she said.

She added that the commission is working to ensure the process remains open and accountable.

“Our commitment is that our system will be very transparent, it will be inclusive, everybody will see what we are doing, and elections will be done on the table, not under the table,” Nderitu said.

Her remarks come at a time when the IEBC faces scrutiny over leadership changes, procurement concerns and lingering mistrust following past elections. The appointment of Moses Sunkuli as acting chief executive earlier this year, after the exit of Marjan Hussein Marjan, has also drawn mixed reactions from political leaders and analysts.

Call to reject propaganda

Nderitu warned that continued attacks on the commission without evidence could damage public confidence in the electoral system.

“One of the issues that we must deal with is propaganda. Because sometimes, when you continue discrediting an institution that is supposed to conduct elections without any basis, and then you have no other institution, then what are you doing?” she posed.

She insisted that the IEBC only counts votes cast by citizens and does not influence outcomes.

“IEBC does not have votes that they have kept somewhere. They only count what has been cast,” she said. “Once you elect leaders, then you must accept that you have elected, not IEBC.”

Nderitu also urged Kenyans to turn out in large numbers, stressing that participation is key to credible elections.

“But every Kenyan must come out to vote,” she added.

Leaders push voter registration

At the same forum, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga called on citizens to register as voters and take responsibility for the country’s future.

“If you really are committed to the well-being of this nation, go, register, have your voting card, and turn up on voting day and vote,” Kahiga said.

He cautioned against registering with a preferred candidate in mind, saying the process should focus on civic duty.

“Do not go to register with any candidate in mind. That’s not why we are doing registration. We are registering to empower ourselves,” he said.

His remarks align with the IEBC’s ongoing mass voter registration drive, which aims to enlist millions of new voters ahead of 2027.

Another speaker raised concern about thousands of uncollected national identity cards, warning that this could lock many young people out of the election.

“One of the main issues… is the 100,000 or so uncollected IDs. That’s a very alarming figure,” he said.

He proposed using local administration structures to distribute the documents.

“We have the chiefs, the sub-chiefs and the Nyumba Kumi. They know the people on the ground. Let’s deploy them so that services are brought closer to the people,” he said.

He noted that transport costs to Huduma Centres may be preventing some from collecting their IDs, which are required for voter registration.

The debate around public trust comes as political leaders continue to question aspects of the electoral process, including technology procurement and institutional independence. Some have called for reforms, while others have urged caution as preparations continue.

Despite the concerns, the IEBC maintains that it is taking steps to improve transparency and inclusivity. Nderitu said building confidence will require cooperation from all stakeholders, not just the commission.

“We are Kenyans. This is our country. We can only do the right thing,” she said.

With less than two years to the next general election, the focus now shifts to whether these assurances will translate into a process that most Kenyans accept as free, fair and credible.