The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has begun validating its Strategic Plan 2024–2029 with a renewed focus on addressing emerging risks and building resilience in electoral management.

Speaking during an internal validation workshop at Sawela Lodges in Naivasha on August 29, 2025, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said the plan would serve as a roadmap for delivering free, fair and credible elections, as well as critical boundary reviews and delimitation.

“The Strategic Plan is a covenant between the Commission and fellow citizens. It binds us to discharge our mandate and functions not only to deliver free, fair and credible elections, but also to deliver boundaries reviews and delimitation,” read part of IEBC’s post on X.

Adapting to current realities

Ethekon challenged participants to anchor the plan on the prevailing political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal landscape. He cautioned that past realities no longer resonate with the present, stressing the need for a forward-looking approach.

“The environment within which IEBC operates today is not the same as it was five or ten years ago. The Strategic Plan must be reviewed against envisaged risks and possible mitigation to ensure it remains relevant,” he said.

Describing the document as “a covenant between the Commission and fellow citizens,” Ethekon said it binds the IEBC to its constitutional mandate, which includes both election management and boundaries delimitation.

Restoring public trust

The workshop also provided a platform to review the Commission’s vision, mission, and core values. Prof. Francis Aduol, Chairperson of the Research, Innovation and ICT Committee, called for emphasis on institutional culture and teamwork to restore public trust.

“Let the Strategic Plan address the aspects of theme, motto, organisational structure and teamwork,” Aduol said, noting that credibility of the Commission will depend on how effectively it implements reforms outlined in the plan.

The IEBC confirmed that the draft will undergo internal validation before being subjected to external stakeholder consultations to ensure inclusivity.

Partnerships ahead of 2027

In a related development, the IEBC has reaffirmed its partnership with the Judiciary in preparation for the 2027 General Election. On Thursday, August 28, Ethekon and fellow commissioners paid a courtesy call on Chief Justice Martha Koome.

“Our discussions centred on how IEBC and the Judiciary can work hand in hand in readiness for the 2027 polls,” Ethekon said in a statement.

The meeting underscored the Judiciary Committee on Elections’ role in resolving disputes fairly and transparently. Chief Justice Koome, joined by Justices Njoki Ndungu and Daniel Musinga, pledged full support, commending the Commission’s leadership.

Looking ahead, IEBC said it will prioritise review of electoral laws, enhance dispute resolution mechanisms and train law enforcement and judicial officers to ensure peaceful, transparent and credible elections in 2027.