Editor's Review

 Ethekon warned politicians and the media against pushing the narrative that the electoral body is compromised.

The Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Erastus Ethekon, has warned politicians and the media against pushing the narrative that the electoral body is compromised.

Speaking on Wednesday, September 2, Ethekon maintained that IEBC would execute its mandate in accordance with the Constitution.

He added that politicians and the media pushing the narrative risk damaging the public trust in the electoral commission. 

"Unfortunately, even our media reports without fact-checking. We need to fact-check these wild allegations that are clearly calculated to create in the minds of Kenyans an idea that the elections are not going to be fair.

"These narratives will lead us to certain risks, including distrusting our institutions. As we move towards 2027, we need to be careful about these narratives that have been woven around institutions of governance," Ethekon.

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File image of IEBC Chair Erastus Edung Ethekon.

The IEBC Chair threatened to expose the individuals and media houses pushing the narrative.

"We will guard our independence at all costs, and we shall call out those people and institutions, whether in the media or political space, that without any justifiable reason, try to undermine IEBC's independence," he reiterated.

Meanwhile, Ethekon clarified that the independence of the Commission did not mean that it should operate in a vacuum. He added that the environment in which it operates demands that the Commission collaborate with other institutions and stakeholders.

He maintained that IEBC would work with other institutions to secure the peace in the country during the elections, and that the vote in 2027 will be free and fair.

The statement came days after IEBC dismissed allegations by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua regarding the procurement of electoral technology for the 2027 General Election. 

The commission accused Gachagua of spreading misinformation about the electoral body and its officials. 

IEBC said all its procurement processes were conducted in accordance with the Constitution, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and other applicable regulations.