The United Opposition has raised fresh fears about the state of Kenya’s electoral system, warning that the country’s democracy could be drifting into danger as the November 27 by-elections draw near. In a detailed State of the Nation address delivered on November 20, 2025, the group painted a troubling picture of a compromised electoral body, unfair voter registration rules, and rising misuse of public resources.
In their address, they pointed directly at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, saying the agency had introduced changes that were confusing, poorly explained, and likely to shut out thousands of eligible voters. The Opposition questioned the rollout of mandatory iris-scanning for voter registration, saying it was done without proper engagement with the public.
“From what we hear across the country, this new system may actually be putting people off from registering. Worse still, it has created a voter register with two different standards, some with iris data, some without, raising real questions about fairness and consistency,” the statement read.
The group added that the decision to only register voters in constituency offices during normal office hours, with no weekend access, had made the situation even worse. They argued that students, young people, and workers who cannot visit these offices during the day were now being unfairly locked out of the process.
Another urgent concern raised was rising cases of voter bribery and pressure in areas preparing for the polls. The Opposition said they had received reports of voters being asked to photograph their marked ballots in return for money.
“If this is not voter bribery and intimidation, then what is? Directing Kenyans to photograph their ballots in exchange for about Sh. 5,000 is a brazen attack on the very soul of our democracy,” the statement said.
They urged the electoral body to guide the public on the correct use of phones inside polling stations and to take immediate action against those pushing illegal practices.
The Opposition also accused several officials of using state resources in ways that went against the Constitution. They said such behaviour eats away at trust in public offices and weakens the fairness of the election environment.
“Such conduct erodes public trust, undermines the fairness of our electoral process, and violates the fundamental principles of accountability, neutrality, and integrity that are the hallmark of public service,” they said.
As the country moves closer to the by-elections, the United Opposition called on citizens to remain alert, push for openness, and defend the values set out in the Constitution. They praised the growing courage among young people who have organized peaceful protests, both in the streets and online, calling out corruption and failures in systems such as SHA/SHIF that have denied many families access to healthcare.
“Our youth have shown us the path and reminded us that courage and moral clarity can reclaim the soul of a nation. Let us heed that call. Let us honour the Constitution, uphold justice, and ensure that every Kenyan’s voice is heard,” the statement emphasized.
“The creation of a moral movement reminds us that leadership is service, not self-interest,” they added.
The warning comes as the nation prepares for by-elections in 24 electoral units, where the United Opposition is also fielding candidates.
