The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has defended its engagement with state agencies over voter registration data, insisting the register remains under its exclusive control and safeguarded by law, amid concerns raised by the Democratic Party about identity verification processes.
In a press release issued in Nairobi on February 16, 2026, the Commission said it “notes with concern recent statements by Democratic Party (DP) regarding IEBC's engagement with National Registration Bureau in relation to voter registration data and identity verification.”
The electoral body cited its constitutional and statutory mandate, stating that Article 88(4) of the Constitution of Kenya and Sections 4 and 6 of the Elections Act, 2011 require it to “register voters, maintain an accurate and up-to-date register of voters and ensure the integrity and accuracy of the register.”
It further emphasised its independence, noting that Article 249(2)(b) of the Constitution guarantees that constitutional commissions shall not be subject to direction or control by any person or authority.
“In fulfilling this constitutional and statutory mandate, the Commission requires working with relevant government agencies that are the lawful custodians of lawful and relevant data to the execution of its mandate,” the statement read.
The IEBC outlined specific areas of collaboration with the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services.
It said the National Registration Bureau assists in verifying national identity card details and the eligibility of citizens during voter registration to ensure the accuracy of the register of voters.
Civil Registration Services, it added, help “to confirm death records for lawful removal of deceased persons from the register of voters.”
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Immigration Services is engaged to verify passport details, noting that a Kenyan passport is one of the statutory identification documents permissible for voter registration under Regulation 13 of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2012 and Registration of Kenyan citizens residing out of Kenya under Regulation 34.
The Commission stressed that such arrangements are neither unusual nor unlawful. “Public agencies routinely enter into controlled data-sharing arrangements with population registration authorities for lawful service delivery, verification, and integrity purposes,” it said.
It also noted that regulated private institutions such as banks, insurance firms, and telecommunications companies interface with population databases strictly for identity verification, compliance, and fraud prevention, subject to applicable laws and oversight.
According to the IEBC, ongoing engagements include establishing a secure Application Programming Interface (API) link with Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS) to ensure only legitimate ID and passport numbers are used.”
It added, “Once the engagements are complete, the Commission will inform the relevant stakeholders.”
Addressing concerns about data security, the Commission stated that the register of voters remains exclusively under the custody and control of the Commission, as provided for under the Constitution and the Elections Act.
It reiterated that personal data of voters is safeguarded in strict compliance with the Constitution of Kenya, The Elections Act, 2011, The Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2012 and The Data Protection Act, 2019.
The IEBC called on stakeholders to support its efforts to strengthen electoral integrity. “The Commission calls upon all stakeholders and partners to continue supporting lawful processes aimed at strengthening the accuracy and integrity of the register of voters, which is a fundamental pillar of democratic elections.”
It also issued a caution to political actors. “We urge stakeholders, especially the political actors, to refrain from uncorroborated, inflammatory and divisive statements that not only undermine the integrity of electoral processes, but also the independence of the Commission,” the statement said.
The Commission concluded by affirming that it remains open for any clarification on the electoral processes.
