The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has raised concerns over incidents of electoral violence, ballot secrecy breaches, voter access challenges, and the presence of unauthorized individuals in several polling stations during the just concluded November 27, 2025 by-elections.
In a preliminary statement released on Friday, the observer group acknowledged that most of the elections were conducted peacefully. However, it warned that several irregularities exposed “systemic vulnerabilities that must be urgently addressed ahead of the 2027 general election.”
ELOG deployed 100 mobile observers across 22 electoral areas, covering both urban and rural regions. The team monitored key stages of the electoral process—including the opening, voting, closing, and counting of ballots—and submitted real-time reports through digital tools.
The report indicated that 93.4 percent of polling stations operated under good or very good conditions. Nevertheless, 6.6 percent of stations faced problems such as missing party agents—particularly for independent candidates—and limited access for accredited observers.
The group also noted the presence of unauthorized individuals in 9.2 percent of stations, citing cases in Machakos’ Mumbuni Ward and Nairobi’s Kariobangi North, where some even assisted voters. “These situations undermined the integrity and control of the polling environment,” ELOG stated.
A particularly concerning finding was the violation of ballot secrecy in 15.2 percent of polling stations. In certain cases, voters were observed taking photographs of their marked ballots before officials intervened. “These acts constitute clear violations of electoral law and raise concerns about coercion and vote-buying,” the statement added.
Assisted voting occurred in 65.9 percent of stations, but observers were unable to verify whether the oath of secrecy was followed in over a quarter of those cases. Voter access remained a major concern, with 42 percent of stations turning away eligible voters due to being at the wrong polling station, missing from the register, or lacking proper identification.
ELOG also reported isolated violence. In Kariobangi North Primary School, youth groups clashed over political affiliations. In Machakos, Labour CS Alfred Mutua was forced to leave a polling station in Mumbuni Ward after being confronted by angry voters, while rival supporters clashed at Mungala polling station.
The group further criticized the disruptive influence of “super agents”—politicians and prominent figures who remained near polling stations after voting. Some even held media briefings close to voting centres, escalating tensions.
In its recommendations, ELOG called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to take swift action on breaches, strengthen supervision of assisted voting, and expand voter education campaigns. It also urged political parties to uphold polling station neutrality and asked the National Police Service to expedite investigations into violent incidents.
“Public confidence in the electoral process depends not only on institutions, but also on the conduct and responsibility of all citizens,” ELOG emphasized.
