Erastus Ethekon: IEBC mandate extends beyond running elections
By Faith Lagat, September 6, 2025The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has reaffirmed its expanded role in safeguarding Kenya’s democracy, with Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon stressing that its work is not confined to managing polls.
Speaking during a strategic meeting with security agencies from Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale counties on Friday, September 5, Ethekon declared, “Our mandate goes beyond running elections – it’s about safeguarding fairness, transparency, and peace throughout the electoral cycle.”
“The IEBC, led by Chairperson @EEEthekon, held a strategic meeting on Friday, September 5th, 2025, with security agencies from Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale counties, as part of efforts to ensure peaceful, credible, and secure electoral processes,” read the IEBC’s post on X dated September 6, 2025.
The meeting formed part of the Election Security Arrangement Project (ESAP), a framework first launched in 2022 to improve collaboration between IEBC, security agencies, and other stakeholders. The commission noted that the engagement underscores its commitment to building public trust and electoral integrity, especially as the country heads into a busy political season.
Strengthening Election Security
Ethekon explained that election security must be seen as a continuous process, covering voter registration, civic education, campaigns, polling, tallying, and even post-election activities.
“Election security is not a one-day affair,” the commission stated, pointing to lessons learnt from past disputes, including the 2017 presidential petition that saw results annulled.
IEBC is preparing for by-elections set for November 27, 2025, alongside the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on September 29. This week, the commission convened a workshop to develop training content and methodology for CVR, adopting a three-tier model to ensure uniformity across regions. The programme will also cover the technical aspects of the new Kenya Integrated Election Management System’s voter registration module, aimed at strengthening risk management and operational efficiency.
Preparing for 2027 polls
The commission has also issued fresh guidelines for independent candidates, requiring them to disassociate from political parties at least three months in advance. Candidates must submit nomination forms by September 17, with official nominations scheduled for October 8–9 and campaigns running until November 24.
On September 2, the commission held a roundtable with Civil Society Organisations under the Uchaguzi Platform, where Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah assured stakeholders that their input would shape policy and strategy to boost inclusivity.
Looking ahead, Ethekon pledged to eliminate vote theft in the 2027 General Election, vowing to uphold impartiality. “In IEBC, we deal with numbers, not emotions,” he said, insisting that the commission’s expanded approach will provide a stronger foundation for Kenya’s democratic process.