Infotrak Survey: 31% of Kenyans perceive IEBC as not free, fair or credidle
By Joel Masibo, December 28, 2025A new Infotrak survey has revealed mixed public perceptions regarding the credibility of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after recent countrywide by-elections held on Thursday, November 27, 2025, with opinions varying significantly across gender and age groups.
Infotrak findings
According to the findings released on Sunday, December 28, 2025, only a small fraction of Kenyans express strong confidence in the electoral body. Just 8 per cent of respondents overall described the recent by-elections as “very free, fair, and credible.”
Men were slightly more likely than women to hold this view, at 9 per cent compared to 7 per cent. Among age groups, youth aged 18–26 years recorded the highest confidence at 10 per cent.
A further 16 per cent of respondents said the by-elections were “mostly free, fair, and credible,” with relatively similar responses from men (16 per cent) and women (15 per cent). Notably, respondents aged 18–26 years were again the most optimistic, with 22 per cent expressing this view, compared to just 11 per cent among those aged 36–45 years.
The share of respondents, 29 per cent, felt the elections were “somewhat free, fair, and credible.” This sentiment was consistently reflected across most age brackets, particularly among respondents aged 18–26 and 46–55 years, both at 31 per cent.
However, scepticism remains high. Nearly one-third of respondents (31 per cent) said the by-elections were “not free, fair, or credible.” This perception was strongest among men at 32 per cent, compared to 29 per cent of women. Older respondents aged 36–45 years expressed the highest level of distrust at 34 per cent, followed closely by those aged 27–35 years at 32 per cent.
Uncertainty in the exercise
Uncertainty was also evident, with 15 per cent of respondents saying they did not know whether the elections were credible. Women were more likely to express uncertainty, with 21 per cent responding “I don’t know,” compared to 10 per cent of men. Among age groups, respondents over 55 years recorded the highest level of uncertainty at 19 per cent.
A small proportion of respondents, 2 per cent overall, chose not to answer the question. The findings have highlighted concerns about the credibility of Kenya’s electoral processes, even as a notable segment of the population acknowledges partial improvements.
As the country prepares for the 2027 general election, the data suggests that rebuilding public trust in the IEBC remains a critical challenge, particularly among middle-aged voters who appear most sceptical of recent by-election outcomes.