The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has assured the United Nations of its preparedness for the 2027 General Election, highlighting voter registration milestones, legal reforms and ongoing operational planning.
IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah, representing Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, hosted United Nations Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Guang Cong during a courtesy visit aimed at assessing Kenya’s electoral preparedness.
The commission said the engagement reflected a shared commitment to protecting Kenya’s democratic process and maintaining stability within the Horn of Africa region ahead of the next General Election.
During the meeting, Abdallah said the commission had registered 2.6 million new voters through the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercises.
She also cited the successful conduct of recent by-elections, saying they had offered the commission valuable operational experience as preparations for 2027 gather momentum.
“The Commission is in the final stages of completing a comprehensive Election Operations Plan, which will soon be launched to guide all aspects of election preparedness,” Abdallah said.
She added that the IEBC Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 places inclusivity and citizen participation at the centre of the commission’s agenda.
Commissioner Ann Nderitu, who accompanied the vice chairperson, said the commission remained committed to delivering a credible and inclusive electoral process.
She said the IEBC was prioritising the participation of women, youth, persons living with disabilities and marginalised communities in the electoral process.
Nderitu further said the commission had finalised proposals for legal reforms to address gaps identified during the 2022 General Election and would submit them to Parliament.
Guang Cong said the visit formed part of a broader fact-finding mission by the United Nations to understand the IEBC’s roadmap to 2027 and identify areas where the global body could provide support.
He said the UN was adopting a “One UN” approach by coordinating political, technical and logistical assistance across its agencies to support electoral processes in the region.
“This approach is particularly critical across the Horn of Africa, where electoral outcomes have far-reaching regional implications,” he said.
The envoy added that Kenya continued to enjoy international recognition for having one of the strongest electoral institutions in the region.
The visit comes as the IEBC intensifies preparations for the 2027 polls following years of political contestation over electoral management and transparency after the disputed 2022 General Election.
The commission has recently focused on voter registration, legal reforms and institutional rebuilding amid pressure from political players and civil society groups demanding credible and transparent elections.
