The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has called for closer cooperation with the Judiciary, police and investigative agencies to safeguard the integrity of the August 10, 2027 General Election.
The commission says its ability to deliver credible elections will depend not only on its management of voting and counting but also on how other institutions protect electoral rights, investigate offences and resolve disputes.
Commissioner Marykaren Sorobit, representing Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, said the commission's constitutional independence did not mean it could prepare for elections in isolation.
"While IEBC's mandate under Article 88 of the Constitution is independent, its effective delivery depends on close cooperation with the Judiciary, NCAJ, investigative and oversight agencies, political parties, the media, civil society and the public," she said.
Sorobit spoke during the launch of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Strategic Plan 2026–2030, its End-Term Review Report for 2021–2026 and the Administration of Justice in Kenya Annual Report for the 2025/26 financial year.
She said credible elections went beyond the casting and counting of votes to include the protection of fundamental rights, timely resolution of electoral disputes, investigation of election offences and respect for the rule of law.
The remarks place the spotlight on the role of the wider justice system in the next elections, particularly the handling of disputes and offences that could undermine public confidence in the process.
The Judiciary, for instance, is responsible for determining election petitions and other disputes arising before and after polling. The police and investigative agencies are expected to deal with electoral offences, intimidation and violence, while oversight institutions have a role in ensuring accountability.
The preparations come as the country approaches another competitive election, with political parties already positioning themselves and prospective candidates beginning to organise for the contest.
The 2027 General Election is scheduled for August 10, when Kenyans will elect the President, governors, senators, Members of Parliament, women representatives and Members of County Assemblies.
The commission has previously said it is targeting a register of 28.5 million voters, compared with the 22.1 million registered for the 2022 General Election.
IEBC has also been working with security agencies and other stakeholders through its Election Security Arrangement Programme to identify and address potential threats before, during and after the polls.
In October, the commission identified political goonism, gangsterism, hate speech, misinformation and misuse of artificial intelligence as emerging threats to peaceful elections.
The Judiciary has also begun preparations for the election dispute process, with Chief Justice Martha Koome announcing plans to train more than 400 judges, judicial officers and staff to handle election-related cases.
The preparations are informed partly by the disputes that followed the 2022 elections, when presidential and other election petitions placed the commission's results management, technology and transmission processes under intense scrutiny.
Sorobit said IEBC remained committed to working with all relevant institutions to deliver free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
The commission's appeal for cooperation comes as preparations move beyond electoral logistics to the broader question of whether institutions will be ready to protect voters' rights and uphold the law throughout the election period.
