A team deployed by the European Union (EU) to assess Kenya's progress on election reforms has raised concern over delays in the formation of IEBC ahead of 2027.
In a statement dated Friday, February 21, it was revealed that the Election Follow-up Mission (EU EFM) was deployed to Kenya from February 2.
The team led by Ivan Štefanec noted that IEBC commissioners were yet to be recruited even as the next election fast approached.
The team added that the delays had also hampered the implementation of election reforms, and delayed voter registration and by-elections.
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"The delay in appointing new IEBC commissioners has effectively postponed pending by-elections and the boundaries delimitation, halted continuous voter registration, and compromised the overall preparations for the 2027 elections," Štefanec highlighted.
"It is essential that the IEBC is reconstituted without further delays and has adequate and timely allocated funding to prepare for the 2027 elections."
The follow-up mission also stated that it had made various recommendations in 2022 that were aimed at enhancing transparency and conduct of the upcoming polls.
Some of the recommendations centred on voter registration and transmission of election results.
"These recommendations included, among others, providing sufficient funds to the IEBC for continuous voter education, implementing improvements in electoral technology through regular audits and stakeholder consultation, operationalising the Election Campaign Financing Act to regulate campaign expenditures effectively, detailing the legal definition of hate speech in line with international human rights obligations, removing sections 22 and 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, and establishing clear procedures for managing staff and the flow of information at tallying centres to increase the consistency and efficiency of the electoral process," read the statement in part.
Recruitment of IEBC commissioners is currently ongoing with the selection panel reviewing applications ahead of the shortlisting of candidates.
According to the selection panel, 1,848 Kenyans applied for the vacant position of chairperson and commissioners.
