The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has begun a joint national planning meeting to prepare for the February 26, 2026 by-elections in Isiolo South Constituency and three county assembly wards, West Kabras in Malava Constituency, and Evurore and Muminji in Mbeere Constituency.
The four seats fell vacant following the death and resignation of the incumbents. The by-elections will test the commission’s operational readiness less than two years to the 2027 General Election, amid heightened political competition and public scrutiny of electoral institutions.
IEBC said the planning workshop is meant to comprehensively address all aspects of election preparedness, including data protection compliance, human resource deployment, security coordination, voter register integrity, training frameworks, audit concerns, candidate registration systems, stakeholder engagement and oath administration.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Commissioner Prof. Francis O. Aduol, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon commended staff for what he described as exemplary performance that enabled the commission to conduct 22 by-elections in 2025.
“The last by-elections presented learning opportunities for the Commission in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election,” Ethekon said. “Key lessons include the need to bolster the safety of the electoral process through tailored security analysis for each electoral area, and the need to seal off all potential gaps to protect the Commission from litigation.”
Ethekon urged strict adherence to the rule of law and high professional standards during the upcoming polls, saying preparation would be the defining factor in maintaining public confidence.
“Effective planning is critical for the success of any process,” he said. “As we deliberate, let us draw out all scenarios possible and develop active mitigation processes.”
Prof. Aduol echoed the chairperson’s remarks, telling staff to remain focused despite public criticism, noting that the standards expected of the commission had been set high.
“The Commission is committed to delivering the best election ever because it has had the opportunity to learn from previous General Elections in 2013, 2017 and 2022,” Aduol said. “We should strive to keep the IEBC graph pointing up by introducing new elements of improvement in technology to guide the electoral process.”
He also pointed to the need for sustained voter education, saying many Kenyans, including candidates, still misunderstand how elections are conducted and determined.
“There is need to educate the public to understand that elections are conducted and decided at the polling station,” he said.
The commission acknowledged persistent challenges observed in recent by-elections, including voter apathy among young people and urban voters, political interference during training of election officials and isolated security incidents.
IEBC officials said these challenges underline the importance of early vetting of staff, firm supervision and close coordination with security agencies.
Operational pressures were also highlighted, among them delayed exchequer releases, staff welfare concerns, conflicts with the school calendar and the spread of misinformation on social media.
“These underscore the need for proactive coordination, clear communication and early risk mitigation,” said Commissioner Abdi Marjan. “If we get the administration right, the operations tight and the systems aligned, the Commission will once again demonstrate that electoral credibility is built not on rhetoric, but on preparation and performance.”
Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan said the focus should remain on delivering a credible process in the four electoral areas.
“The IEBC team on the ground is professional and has done an excellent job,” he said. “Let our focus be on delivering a credible election in Isiolo South Constituency, West Kabras, Evurore and Muminji wards.”
The February by-elections are expected to serve as an early indicator of IEBC’s preparedness for the 2027 General Election, at a time when electoral integrity remains a central issue in Kenya’s political landscape.
