Law Society of Kenya LSK has been urged by the Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua, to be more proactive in holding the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) accountable as the country heads into elections in 2027.

Taking it to his social media handle on Friday, February 20, 2026, Gachagua congratulated the newly elected LSK President Charles Kanjama, raising issues of electoral transparency, accountability, and institutional independence, which have been the major issues in the political discourse about Kenya’s democracy.

Gachagua highlighted that any democratic society will be founded on credible elections. In Kenya, where election results have traditionally created a lot of controversy and, in some cases, violence, the value of the oversight institutions cannot be overestimated.

“Above all, Kenyans are optimistic that LSK will lead in keeping theIEBC on its toes to ensure a free, fair, credible and verifiable 2027 General Elections by smoothening the processes and providing a level playing field,” Gachagua said.

He emphasised the need to observe the legality and constitutionality of the IEBC in protecting the will of the people by urging the LSK to watch over its shoulder. The LSK is the umbrella body of advocates in Kenya, and since it has expertise, it has the mandate to interpret, defend and even promote the rule of law.

This is not its first interest in electoral issues. Regular irregularities in society have been questioned over the years, courts petitioned, and constitutional process legal opinions presented.

The call made by Gachagua is an indication of the role that the legal fraternity plays in enhancing democracy and making institutions answerable. The core of the issue is the confidence of the populace. The IEBC has a mammoth task of carrying out free, fair and transparent elections. Any feeling that there is favoritism or mishandling can destroy confidence in democratic results.

Monitoring by third parties, such as the LS,K can also be useful to convince the people that there is control over the electoral processes and they occur within the confines of the Constitution and the existing legal frameworks. This balance, however, must be taken into account. Although it is necessary, the supervision should not compromise the state of operational independence of the electoral body.

IEBC to avoid being political

The IEBC has to be left to operate without unnecessary political influence despite the fact that it is still accountable to the law. Positive interaction among the commission, the legal stakeholders and other institutions can help foster transparency that does not affect autonomy.

The comments of Gachagua end up bringing out a wider challenge of institutional vigilance. Democracy will flourish with checks and balances in place and when there is collaboration among the institutions to support the constitutional ideals.

The former Deputy President has revived a national debate on accountability, legal review and the collective role of safeguarding the Kenyan democratic future by putting the LSK to task and holding the IEBC accountable.