The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said it has launched a comprehensive electoral legal reform process aimed at sealing gaps in the law and strengthening governance ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Commission said the initiative, led by Commissioner Mary Karen Sorobit, chairperson of the Legal Compliance and Political Parties Liaison Committee, is being undertaken in collaboration with the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA).
Speaking during a stakeholder forum, Ms Sorobit described the exercise as a key step in the post-2022 reform journey, saying it builds on weaknesses identified after the 2017 General Election.
“This is not a narrow legislative adjustment, but a structural effort to reinforce electoral governance, close legal gaps and enhance enforceability well ahead of 2027,” she said.
According to the Commission, the reform package proposes amendments to the Elections Act, the Election Offences Act and the County Governments Act. It also seeks to review campaign financing laws and introduce a proposed Referendum Bill. Other areas under review include regulations governing voter registration, voter education, party primaries and party lists, election technology and campaign financing.
The reforms come amid sustained pressure from opposition leaders and civil society groups who have questioned the credibility of electoral technology, transparency in results transmission and enforcement of campaign spending limits.
Following the disputed 2017 and 2022 elections, opposition figures demanded greater transparency in the management of the Results Transmission System, clearer audit mechanisms for election technology and firm action against electoral offences. Concerns were also raised over chaotic party primaries, with critics arguing that weak internal democracy fuels disputes that spill into the courts.
Civil society organisations such as the Election Observation Group and the Katiba Institute have previously flagged inconsistencies between electoral statutes and regulations, gaps in enforcement and delays in resolving disputes. The Transparency International Kenya has also raised concerns over opaque campaign financing and the growing influence of money in politics.
To guide the process, the IEBC has constituted a multi-sectoral working group bringing together representatives from the Kenya Law Reform Commission, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, the Office of the Attorney General, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and the National Assembly of Kenya, among others.
The team will oversee consultations and public participation before the draft Bills are submitted to Parliament. The Commission said it intends to fast-track the process to ensure the necessary legal instruments are in place in good time before the 2027 polls.
BonMak Olwal, Programme Manager at UKAID representing ELGIA, said stakeholders must actively participate in enriching the proposed laws.
Analysts say the reforms will test not just legislative resolve but also the political will to implement them, as the country prepares for another high-stakes election cycle.
