Political risk analyst Dismas K. Mokua has challenged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to make transparency and clear public communication a central part of its preparations for the 2027 General Election, warning that public confidence could determine whether Kenyans accept the final results.
Speaking during a Radio Generation interview on Wednesday, Mokua said the commission’s ability to deliver a credible election would depend on more than technology and funding, arguing that Kenyans must clearly understand how the systems used to conduct and verify the vote will work.
The IEBC has set August 10, 2027 as the date for the next General Election and has started implementing its Election Operations Plan for the poll. Its preparations include electoral reforms, voter registration and voter education, among other activities.
Mokua said the commission should explain its procedures in simple language and give the public enough information to understand every important stage of the electoral process.
“The biggest challenge facing IEBC today is not technology, is not budgetary allocation, is strategic communications to ensure that every single Kenyan understands how the election is going to be done, and understands that our probability of stealing an election is almost zero,” he said.
He said the IEBC should not wait until election day to explain how its systems work, but should instead demonstrate their effectiveness well before the vote.
According to Mokua, Kenyans should be able to understand how votes are processed, how results are generated and how the figures are checked before the commission announces the final outcome.
He also proposed that the IEBC make public its record in election-related court cases, saying such information could help address doubts about the commission’s work and strengthen confidence in the institution.
“In fact, they should even make public the number of petitions they've won, because understand people lose election and take IEBC to the courts. Probability of winning is almost zero, so that it's bulletproof.”
Mokua warned that doubts over the credibility of the electoral process could have wider consequences for the country if they are not addressed early.
“IBC should know that if they are not proactive, they are in fact a threat to Kenya's national security. Because if they deliver this election in a manner that is not free, fair, or credible, that is a recipe for disaster.”
He said the commission should work to ensure political parties, candidates, observers, the media and ordinary voters understand the systems in place before polling day.
“Every stakeholder in Kenya must understand that in fact these systems are working. So that when IEBC declares a winner, then people go home knowing this, in fact, is the winner,” he said.
The IEBC has already developed its Election Operations Plan for 2025–2027, which outlines key timelines and operational requirements for the 2027 General Election.
The commission has also said it is reviewing its electoral technology based on lessons from previous elections, observer reports and audits, with the aim of improving efficiency and transparency.
Mokua further called for transparency to be maintained throughout the electoral cycle rather than being limited to the period around polling day.
He also urged the media to continue scrutinising the IEBC while ensuring that accurate information about the electoral process reaches the public consistently.
The analyst noted that candidates who lose elections often blame electoral officials for their defeats, making public understanding and trust in the IEBC important in preventing disputes over results.
Mokua said sustained communication, openness and voter education would help reduce uncertainty and give Kenyans greater confidence in the 2027 election and its eventual outcome.