IEBC chair Ethekon calls for tough penalties for those disrupting electoral process
By Mabonga Makhanu, November 18, 2025Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chair Erastus Ethekon has come out to call for tough penalties for those who disrupt electoral processes.
While speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, November 18, 2025, Ethekon emphasised the need to amend the Election Offences Act to ensure stricter punishments for anyone attempting to interfere with the electoral process.
He explained that Kenya’s electoral activities are guided by the Constitution, particularly Article 88, which grants the IEBC its mandate. Several laws have been enacted to facilitate smooth elections and regulate every stage of the process, ensuring confidence in the integrity of the system.
“Kuna sheria ambazo tumepropose for amendment just to make things better. Kama sheria ya election offences tubataka tutughten, inafaa tu enhance penalties punishment around those people who are messing with the electoral process,” Ethekon said.
He further went ahead to state that despite the few amendments he wants Parliament to make to the Elections Act and other laws, he expressed confidence in the Kenyan electoral process, saying that it is the most regulated system.
However, according to him, the amendments are not because there are gaps or issues, but because Kenyans always want to have the best systems, and that is why, according to him, there is a need for such amendments.
“Kuna sheria ambazo zimewekwa, election zetu naeza kusema na confidence ziko highly regulated, tuko na sheria za kila kila shughuli kila process, mimi mwenyewe sina wasiwasi lakini sisi wakenya we always want to improve things na huwa tunataka kuwa the best,” he said
Mapping Kasipul and Mbeere North
These comes days after IEBC identified Mbeere North and Kasipul Kabondo as volatile areas ahead of the November 27 by-election.
In a statement released by the commission on Friday, November 14, 2025, the commission stated that while campaigns in other areas are largely peaceful, Kasipul Kabondo and Mbeere North have been marred by inflammatory remarks, violence, and intimidation.
“While campaigns in most areas have been largely peaceful, the three institutions note with concern isolated incidents of violence, intimidation, and inflammatory utterances, particularly in Kasipul and Mbeere North constituencies,” IEBC said in a statement.