Kioni said he had consistently questioned the conduct and leadership of the electoral commission since the 2013 polls, warning that failure to enforce electoral rules could heighten political tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking to K24TV on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Kioni said the IEBC still had an opportunity to restore public confidence by taking firm action against politicians who breach electoral regulations.
“IEBC, I have always, always faulted IEBC from the day they conducted the 2013 elections,” Kioni said.
Kioni calls for firmer IEBC action
Kioni argued that stronger enforcement of electoral laws would send a clear message to politicians and aspirants that inflammatory statements and misconduct would have consequences.
“IEBC still can salvage the situation by being very firm,” he said.
He maintained that the commission should not hesitate to act against political actors whose remarks or conduct violate electoral rules, arguing that decisive action could discourage politicians from making inflammatory statements.
“If IEBC focuses on me as an aspirant because of what I say, I want to tell you, it’s very scaring enough for all aspirants to keep their mouths shut on stupid statements like the ones that have been uttered by these individuals,” Kioni said.
The Jubilee official warned that perceptions of a weak electoral regulator could contribute to an increasingly volatile political environment as Kenya approaches the 2027 elections.
Kioni said the greater concern was not only whether elections could be manipulated, but also the level of frustration among citizens and the determination of political leaders to retain power.
He linked the situation to the possibility of Kenya experiencing another political crisis similar to the 2007 post-election violence, cautioning leaders against creating conditions that could trigger deeper conflict.
Kioni warns against regional political mobilisation
Kioni also criticised political leaders for organising themselves along regional lines, warning that such mobilisation could encourage similar reactions from other communities.
“The worst is that we in the opposition also have done everything on earth to ensure that we Balkanize the country and organize ourselves politically on a regional basis,” he said.
He argued that framing political contests as battles between particular communities and the government could deepen ethnic divisions and undermine national cohesion.
Despite his concerns, Kioni maintained that there was still time for political leaders to change the country’s trajectory before the 2027 General Election.
His remarks come amid heightened political activity ahead of the polls, with political parties and leaders increasingly positioning themselves for the contest while debates over electoral preparedness, political rhetoric and the independence of the IEBC continue to dominate the national conversation.
