Tag: IEBC news

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has issued a final reminder to eligible citizens as the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise enters its final 24 hours. In an update released on Monday, April 27, 2026, the commission confirmed that the nationwide drive will officially conclude on Tuesday, April 28.

To maximize turnout in the final stretch, the IEBC clarified that Kenyans do not need to travel to their ancestral homes or home counties to register. Thanks to the deployment of “open kits,” citizens can visit any registration center near their current location and sign up for any polling station across the country.

Registration Status and Excluded Areas

While the exercise is nationwide, the commission noted that registration is currently suspended in regions with active electoral disputes or upcoming polls. These specific areas include:

• Constituencies: Ol Kalou, Malava, Mbeere North, and Emurua Dikirr.

• Wards: Porro and Endo.

This suspension is due to ongoing election petitions or preparations for scheduled by-elections, such as the highly anticipated Ol Kalou contest.

New Voter Statistics: Nairobi and Kiambu Lead the Surge

The appeal comes on the heels of fresh data released by the commission, showing a significant surge in registration over the past month. Between March 30 and April 23, 2026, the IEBC successfully registered 1,876,274 new voters. In the final week alone, more than 500,000 people joined the roll.

Top Performing Counties:

• Nairobi City: 209,965 new voters

• Kiambu: 97,557 new voters

• Nakuru: 81,166 new voters

• Kakamega: 80,711 new voters

• Machakos: 65,616 new voters

Other counties with strong showings included Bungoma (62,030), Meru (56,486), and Kilifi (54,171). Meanwhile, counties in the lower tier included Wajir (17,930), Mandera (14,946), and Isiolo (9,291), with Lamu recording the lowest numbers at 8,345 new registrations.

Transfers and Particular Updates

Beyond new registrations, the ECVR exercise has facilitated significant movement within the existing voter base. Approximately 159,410 voters utilized the window to transfer their registration details to new polling centers, while nearly 3,000 citizens updated their personal particulars.

With the clock ticking toward the Tuesday deadline, the IEBC is urging all young people and previously unregistered citizens to take advantage of the remaining hours to ensure they are eligible for future elections.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has launched a massive recruitment drive, declaring 12,520 temporary positions available to facilitate an upcoming nationwide voter registration exercise. This initiative, announced on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, is part of the commission’s strategic efforts to expand the national voter database and ensure maximum inclusivity ahead of future electoral processes. The recruitment targets a diverse range of personnel, specifically seeking Voter Registration Assistants, Voter Registration Clerks, and ICT Clerks to manage the logistical and technical demands of the drive.

Successful applicants for these roles can expect to earn a daily stipend of approximately KSh 2,000 for the duration of the assignment. To be eligible, the commission is looking for Kenyan citizens aged 19 years and above who possess at least a KCSE mean grade of C- (minus) or its equivalent. Beyond basic academic qualifications, computer literacy is a mandatory requirement for all positions, while a diploma in fields such as ICT, statistics, education, or business administration will be viewed as a significant added advantage, particularly for those eyeing supervisory or technical roles.

The responsibilities for these positions are clearly defined to ensure the integrity of the registration process. ICT Clerks will be tasked with the technical operation and troubleshooting of biometric registration equipment, including KIEMS kits and their associated hardware and software. Voter Registration Assistants will take on a more administrative role, supervising ward-level clerks, coordinating the movement of registration equipment, and monitoring daily statistics to ensure that each ward meets its designated voter targets. Meanwhile, Voter Registration Clerks will serve as the primary point of contact for the public, handling the manual and digital entry of new voter details.

All interested candidates are required to submit their applications through the official IEBC portal. Following the shortlisting process, candidates will be expected to present their original National Identification Cards and academic certificates for verification. Furthermore, to safeguard the sensitive data collected during the exercise, every successful applicant must undergo mandatory specialized training and swear an official oath of secrecy before being deployed to their respective wards across the country.

In a significant leadership shift at Anniversary Towers, Marjan Hussein Marjan has officially resigned from his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The announcement, which was confirmed by the commission on the evening of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, brings a close to a decade-long tenure for an official who has been central to the management of Kenya’s most recent and high-stakes electoral cycles.

Marjan’s departure appears to be the result of a calculated and diplomatic process rather than a sudden fallout. In a letter addressed to the commission’s staff, he described his exit as part of a “mutually agreed-upon structured transition” within the Office of the Commission Secretary. While he did not explicitly state the specific reasons for stepping down, Marjan expressed profound gratitude for the privilege of serving alongside what he described as a professional and resilient team. Having joined the IEBC in April 2015—first as Deputy CEO and later as the substantive head—his leadership was most notably tested during the 2022 General Elections and the complex administrative transition that followed.

Despite the formal and appreciative tone of his farewell, the resignation comes amid a backdrop of intense political heat. The IEBC has been under mounting pressure from the United Opposition, which has expressed growing concerns regarding the commission’s readiness for the 2027 polls. Just days before the resignation, opposition leaders visited the IEBC headquarters to demand urgent reforms. During this meeting, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua was particularly pointed in his critique, openly expressing a total lack of confidence in Marjan’s leadership and calling for fresh management to ensure the credibility of future elections.

The IEBC has responded to the vacancy by reassuring the public of its commitment to institutional stability. In an official statement, the commission emphasized that the secretariat remains the backbone of service delivery in electoral management and must reflect a high level of preparedness and passion to deliver free and fair polls. As the handover process begins, the IEBC has promised to name an interim CEO in due course to manage the day-to-day operations, which include human resource administration and the implementation of key commission policies. For now, the focus shifts to how this leadership vacuum will be filled and whether a fresh face at the helm will satisfy the growing demands for transparency ahead of the next national vote.

A new chapter for Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is officially set to begin today, Friday, July 11, 2025, as the newly appointed chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon, and six commissioners are scheduled to be sworn into office at midday at the Supreme Court.

This crucial development follows a significant High Court ruling delivered on Thursday evening, July 10, 2025. A three-judge bench, comprising Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili, Justice John Chigiti, and Justice Bahati Mwamuye, dismissed the substantive petition that had challenged the selection and nomination process of the new IEBC team. Petitioners had argued that the selection process was opaque, lacked regional balance, and failed to adequately include persons with disabilities and marginalized groups. However, the court found these claims to be unsubstantiated, affirming that public participation was conducted adequately and regional balance was considered.

Crucially, while upholding the nominations, the court nullified an earlier Gazette Notice dated June 10, 2025, which President William Ruto had issued to formalize the appointments. The judges deemed this initial gazettement “unlawful,” ruling that it was done in violation of existing court orders that had temporarily halted the process. To regularize the appointments, the court directed President Ruto to issue a fresh Gazette Notice.

President Ruto promptly complied with this directive, issuing a new Gazette Notice dated July 10, 2025, which re-appointed Erastus Edung Ethekon as Chairperson and Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah as commissioners. Both the chairperson and commissioners are appointed to serve a single term of six years.

The swearing-in ceremony, which Chief Justice Martha Koome will preside over, marks the end of a prolonged period during which the IEBC operated without a full commission. This reconstitution is critical, especially with several mini-polls pending and exactly two years remaining until the 2027 General Election. The new team faces the immediate task of restoring the full functionality and public trust in the electoral body, which is vital for Kenya’s democratic processes.

A former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner, Irene Masit, has fled the country after receiving death threats.

Masit, who was one of four commissioners who challenged the election of William Ruto as president, left the country on Tuesday.

The threats against Masit began after she was fired from the IEBC by a tribunal. The tribunal found that she had committed gross misconduct by attending meetings with top allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta in which they allegedly asked her to alter the election results.

Masit has denied the allegations, but she says that she has been receiving death threats from people who believe that she is responsible for Ruto’s loss.

“I have been receiving unending and chilling death threats,” Masit said in a statement. “I am afraid for my life and the lives of my family.”

Masit’s lawyer, Donald Kipkorir, said that she has reported the threats to the police, but that no action has been taken.

“We have reported the threats to the police, but they have not taken any action,” Kipkorir said. “We are now considering taking legal action against the people who are threatening her.”

Masit’s destination is unknown, but she is reportedly seeking asylum in a foreign country.

She is the second high-profile IEBC official to flee the country in less than six years. In 2017, Roselyn Akombe also fled the country after receiving death threats.

Akombe’s case is similar to Masit’s in that she was also fired from the IEBC by a tribunal and then received death threats.

Akombe has since said that she believes that the threats against her were politically motivated.

The threats against Masit and Akombe are a reminder of the dangers that IEBC officials face when they challenge the results of an election.

It is also a reminder of the need for the government to take seriously the threats against IEBC officials and to ensure their safety.

The position of Member of Parliament (MP) is one of the most important elective posts that voters should be keen on while voting for candidates.

Do you know MPs have the power to impeach a sitting president? It is important for voters to assess the candidates vying for the position of MP before they make the choice about who they will vote for tomorrow August 8^th.

Below are the roles of MPs that should guide you when voting for your next MP:

1.MP represents the people of the constituencies and special groups

2.MP deliberates on and resolves issues of concern to the people

3.MP makes National Laws in parliament

4.MP decides on the allocation of national revenue between the levels of Government and other National State organs

5.MP reviews the conduct of President, Deputy President and other state officers and may initiate the process of removing them from office

There are only 2 days left before Kenyans choose their next leaders. Every position being contested for by politicians is vital to the Kenyan people because they serve different purposes.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has carried out massive voter sensitization campaign in a bid to make sure the electorates understand the roles politicians will play once elected to respective offices.

So what roles do MCAs perform?

1.MCA maintains close contact with the electorate and consult them on issues before or under discussion in county assembly

2.Presents views, opinions and proposals of the electorate to the county assembly

3.Attends sessions of the county assembly and its committees

4.Extends professional knowledge, experience or specialized knowledge to any issue for discussion in county assembly

There are only 3 days left before eligible Kenyans cast their votes to choose leaders who will lead them for the next five years. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has carried out massive voter sensitization campaign in a bid to make sure the electorates understand the roles that the people they will vote for on August 8^th will play once they get into office.

Do you really know the roles and mandate of County governors? Take a look below:

1.A Governor is in charge of proving leadership to the County executive committee and administration based on the County policies and plans

2.Governor promotes democracy, good governance, unity and cohesion within the County

3.Governor promotes peace and order with the County

4.Governor promotes the competitiveness of the County

Do you really know what roles the people you will be voting will play once they are elected to office? The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has carried out massive voter sensitization campaign in a bid to make sure the electorates understand the roles that the people they will vote for on August 8^th will play once they get into office.

First off is the President, the highest authority in Kenya. What role does a president play?

1.The president is the head of state and national government

2.The president is the commander-in-chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF)

3.The president is the chairperson of the National Security Council

4.The president is a symbol of national unity

5.The president safeguards the sovereignty of the Republic

6.The president promotes and enhances the unity of the Nation

7.The president is tasked with promoting the respect for the diversity of the people and communities of Kenya

8.The president ensures the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law

The previous general election in 2013 witnessed long queues stretching for hundreds of meters on the roads outside the polling stations.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has made sure this won’t be the case come August 8^th 2017.

To avoid long queues, IEBC increased the number of polling stations to 40,883 across the country. This means that every polling station has a maximum of 700 voters only. And the result is that there won’t be long queues as witnessed in previous elections.

Another strategy IEBC will use to make the voting process to be fast and to avoid long queues at the polling stations is the ‘alphabetic queuing’; voters will be directed by IEBC queuing clerks to queue according to the first name that appears on their ID or valid Kenyan passport.

The polling stations will also be subdivided into zones which will have larger queues that feed into the polling stations’ queues, there will be clear signage for this on August 8^th.

Below is a video illustration of how voters will queue on August 8^th:

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) insists that Kenyans must follow certain guidelines when they go to vote on August 8^th 2017.

The rules are very simple yet if not followed properly could have serious ramifications. Below are the rules:

1. All voters are required to be at the polling stations between 6:00am and 5:00pm.
2. All voters are required to produce their original national identity card or a valid Kenyan passport for identification. You won’t be allowed to vote if you don’t have either of these.
3. At the polling station you will be given 6 stamped ballot papers each of a distinct color; President, Member of National Assembly, Member of County Assembly, Senator, County Women Member of National Assembly and Governor. To mark the ballot paper, place one mark inside the box next to the photo of the candidate of your choice. If you mark the same ballot paper twice your vote will be considered as a spoilt vote and won’t count. If you need any assistance in marking the ballot papers the presiding officer or someone of your choice can assist you.
4. IEBC officials will mark voters’ small finger with indelible ink to prove they have already voted. You are only allowed to vote once, if you try to vote twice or multiple times you will be arrested and prosecuted.
5. Once you have completed the process of voting you are required to leave the polling station. IEBC won’t allow voters who have already cast their votes to idle at the polling stations.

Watch the video below for clarification on how you will vote come August 8^th: