Erastus Edung Ethekon, Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), has emphasised dialogue as the cornerstone for building electoral trust and transparency in Kenya.

Speaking at the 8th People’s Dialogue Festival held at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on Friday, March 6, 2026, Ethekon highlighted the importance of open engagement at every phase of the electoral cycle.

“At the People’s Dialogue Festival, we believe dialogue is essential at every stage of the electoral process, from planning and execution to post-event evaluation. Forums such as this provide an important opportunity for engagement,” he emphasised.

Ethekon explained that such platforms allow the IEBC to demystify complex issues and counter misleading narratives in the public domain.

He noted that through direct interaction, citizens and stakeholders gain clearer insights into the commission’s operations, including data management, voter register integrity, and safeguards that protect the electoral process from compromise.

“Engagement enables citizens and stakeholders to better understand how we operate, how we manage and handle data, maintain the integrity of the voter register, and uphold the safeguards that ensure the security of the electoral process,” Ethekon added.

He stressed that ongoing conversations are necessary to foster trust, confidence, accountability, and transparency values essential for a credible democracy as Kenya prepares for future elections.

Festival focuses on collaborative democracy

The People’s Dialogue Festival, organised by the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy (CMD-Kenya) under the theme of building collaborative democracy for a sustainable future, serves as a key civic space for multi-stakeholder discussions on election preparedness.

The forum aligns with IEBC efforts to boost voter registration, particularly among youth, amid concerns over low turnout in recent drives. On-site registration was available during the festival, part of the commission’s strategy to ensure inclusive participation.

Youth engagement a key priority

Complementing the Chairperson’s message, Fahima Araphat Abdallah, Vice Chairperson of the IEBC, focused on youth involvement.

As one of the youngest leaders in the commission, she used the platform to urge young Kenyans to claim their democratic rights responsibly.

“We are taking this opportunity to engage particularly with young people. As the Vice Chairperson, and also a young person, I want to encourage my fellow youth to actively participate in their democratic rights but to do so in a peaceful, responsible, and sustainable way,” Abdallah said.