The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has issued a stern warning to politicians and aspirants engaging criminal gangs and goons for political violence ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying such actions could lead to disqualification from the race.
Speaking during a consultative meeting between the IEBC and senior officials from the Ministry of Interior on Friday, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission would not tolerate electoral misconduct or violence linked to political activities.
Ethekon accused some political actors of sponsoring gangs to intimidate rivals and disrupt political processes, warning that the electoral body was prepared to enforce strict sanctions under the election code of conduct.
“When the election code of conduct comes into force, we will take firm and decisive action against individuals involved in violence and other electoral offences,” Ethekon said.
He noted that the growing trend of politicians hiring criminal gangs posed a major threat to peaceful elections and democratic stability in the country.
Crackdown on Political Violence
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen assured the commission that security agencies were prepared to deal firmly with goonism and election-related violence.
Murkomen said the government would hold all perpetrators accountable regardless of their political affiliations.
“We shall decisively deal with the issue of goonism and ensure all those involved face the law,” he stated.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo also stressed the need for faster transmission of election results to minimise tension and prevent groups of youths from gathering around polling stations for prolonged periods.
“We want results conveyed faster so that goons do not crowd polling stations for days waiting to manipulate the process,” Omollo said.
Concerns Over National IDs
The IEBC also raised concerns over low voter registration caused by delays in the issuance of national identity cards.
According to Ethekon, thousands of eligible Kenyans were unable to register during the recently concluded Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise because they lacked identification documents.
The commission disclosed that it fell short of its voter registration target by about eight per cent.
“Many young Kenyans were turned away during voter registration because they did not have IDs. This is an issue that requires urgent intervention,” Ethekon said.
Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang acknowledged the backlog and revealed that the government was working to speed up ID processing and distribution.
Kipsang disclosed that nearly 489,000 IDs remain uncollected, while another one million are yet to be printed.
He added that close to 949,000 new IDs had already been issued, with more than two million processed between 2025 and 2026.
Preparations for 2027 Elections
The Interior Ministry further revealed that security agencies have already identified several potential hotspots ahead of the 2027 General Election through intelligence-led operations.
Authorities said early interventions were already underway to prevent possible security threats that could interfere with election preparedness and voting processes.
At the same time, the IEBC announced plans to convene a National Election Preparedness Conference that will bring together political parties, religious leaders, civil society organisations and election observers.
The forum is expected to discuss strategies aimed at strengthening transparency, inclusivity and peaceful electoral participation ahead of the 2027 polls.
