The electoral agency is once again facing mounting scrutiny as claims of voter register manipulation and election rigging begin to dominate political discourse ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), still struggling to rebuild public confidence after previous disputed polls, now finds itself at the centre of fresh accusations from opposition leaders, lawmakers and civil society voices questioning the integrity of the voter registration process.

Key in the controversy are claims that influential political figures have openly suggested that votes could be manipulated in favour of President William Ruto’s re-election bid, yet no action has been taken against them.

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the commission, accusing it of remaining silent even after senior politicians made remarks widely interpreted as endorsing electoral malpractice.

Speaking during an interview with Kameme TV, Kalonzo questioned why leaders are making inflammatory comments about the next election had neither been censured nor investigated.

“Kama jamaa anaweza sema uchaguzi unaokuja hata kama kura hazitatosha tutaongeza, huyo ni mtu wa aina gani?” Kalonzo posed.

“Hajashikwa, na hatujasikia IEBC ikimkemea mtu kama huyo. And he has not been taken to write a statement.”

Kalonzo was referring to remarks by Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, who appeared to suggest that votes could be added if necessary to secure victory in 2027.

“Nataka nikwambie wewe Wamunyoro [Gachagua], hakuna mtu anaongoza Kenya hii kwa miaka tano. Hiyo kura isipojaa tutajaza na tutajaza na hawa wananchi hawa,” Sudi said at a public gathering.

The comments sparked criticism from opposition figures who argued that such statements undermine confidence in the electoral process, particularly coming from leaders allied to the ruling coalition.

IEBC’s acid test

Kalonzo insists the silence from the IEBC is what has made the situation more alarming.

For many Kenyans, memories of disputed elections and accusations of vote manipulation remain deeply etched in the country’s political history.

Even casual references to adding votes are enough to trigger anxiety over the credibility of future elections.

The concerns have only intensified after other Kenya Kwanza leaders made similar remarks in recent months.

Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Jehow caused controversy in July 2025 after publicly claiming that leaders from the Northeastern region would ensure President Ruto secures re-election, regardless of vote numbers.

During a homecoming event, Jehow stated in Swahili that it was no secret that even if the region lacked sufficient votes for the president, they would steal them for him.

A month later, Tiaty MP William Kamket echoed similar sentiments during a dowry ceremony, saying ruling coalition leaders would do whatever it takes to guarantee Ruto a second term.

“Sometimes, MP Sudi and I are harsh, and I always hear him say we are going to add votes,” Kamket said on August 3, 2025.

“I’m also saying the same. If the votes are not enough, we’ll ensure they are enough, whatever comes may.”

While some leaders within the government have dismissed the statements as political rhetoric, critics argue the repeated nature of the remarks paints a troubling picture, especially in a country where electoral credibility has historically shaped political stability.

Growing fears over voter register integrity

Beyond the public statements, the debate has now shifted to the integrity of the voter register itself.

Kalonzo has accused the government of facilitating a covert operation aimed at influencing the 2027 election outcome through the claimed registration of foreigners as Kenyan voters.

According to the opposition leader, Somali nationals are reported to be issued with Kenyan identification documents and passports before being entered into the voter roll.

He claims the exercise is concentrated in border counties within the Northeastern region, where recent policy changes, including the removal of mandatory vetting requirements for ID applicants, have eased documentation processes.

The opposition has broadened the accusations to include claims involving nationals from Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, arguing that the scheme could be regional in scope and intended to inflate voter numbers in favour of the ruling administration.

The claims have injected fresh tension into the political environment and revived long-standing fears about ghost voters and electoral fraud.

Pressure on the IEBC increased further after concerns were raised on the floor of Parliament over anomalies in voter registration records.

Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje recently asked the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to investigate discrepancies involving newly registered voters in his constituency.

Mwenje claimed that some voters registered in Nairobi were found to have records linking them to polling areas in counties such as Garissa and Wajir.

“These concerns raise serious questions over the integrity, accuracy and credibility of the voters’ register,” Mwenje told Parliament.

“Such allegations, if confirmed, have the potential to undermine public confidence in the electoral process and may occasion disenfranchisement of voters who might not be able to access their designated voting stations.”

The legislator further argued that similar cases had been reported in neighbouring Embakasi Central, suggesting a coordinated pattern rather than isolated incidents.

“There is no coincidence here. Where I got these cases, and my colleague from Embakasi Central got the same, it means there is someone deliberately moving these votes to Northeastern,” he said.

The IEBC has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that its voter registration and data management systems remain secure and legally compliant.

In early 2025, the commission dismissed claims that it was involved in any unlawful data-sharing arrangement with the National Registration Bureau (NRB).

The issue emerged after Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi raised concerns over claimed secret agreement between the IEBC and agencies under the Office of the President.

“The Democratic Party wishes to express grave concern over credible reports that the IEBC has entered into a secret MoU with the Office of the President under the guise of a Data Sharing Framework,” Muturi claimed.

“We have further established that the acting CEO of IEBC [Moses] Sunkuli held meetings with officials of the NRB to discuss integration of voter data systems, including collaboration with private vendors, such as Smartmatic. These developments raise serious constitutional, legal and ethical concerns.”

However, the electoral commission rejected the claims, insisting that collaboration with state agencies is both routine and necessary to ensure accurate voter verification and registration.

Despite those assurances, the political storm surrounding the commission continues to grow.

With the 2027 election still months away, the IEBC is increasingly under pressure not only to defend the credibility of the voter register, but also to reassure Kenyans that the next election will be transparent, verifiable and free from manipulation.

For an institution whose legitimacy often determines the country’s political stability, the coming months may prove to be one of its toughest credibility tests yet.