The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned that political violence, misinformation and the circulation of fake election results could pose serious risks to Kenya’s August 2027 General Election.

IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana said the electoral agency was increasingly concerned about emerging security threats, particularly political gangs, declining public trust and the possibility of false election results being circulated on social media.

Speaking during the National Cohesion and Integration Commission’s Amani Conference, Mukhwana said digital misinformation could undermine confidence in the electoral process even where the commission conducts a credible election.

“We are living in unprecedented times. We always fear what will happen one day when elections have been conducted well and someone claims they are running a ‘people’s IEBC’ and announces different results,” he said.

“That can be very dangerous. It is up to all of us to make sure we fight this social media menace.”

Mukhwana, who represented IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon at the conference, said the commission was also grappling with a legacy of public mistrust.

He said criticism directed at the current commission should be viewed against the broader history of Kenya’s electoral institutions.

“Lack of public trust has nothing to do with the Ethekon commission. It is a legacy we inherited,” Mukhwana said.

He added that IEBC would continue providing regular updates on preparations for the election in an effort to rebuild public confidence.

“We remain committed to keeping citizens informed on every milestone, and we hope some politicians will not outrun us,” he said.

On voter registration, Mukhwana said IEBC had so far registered about 2.3 million voters against a target of 6.3 million.

He said the second phase of mass voter registration is expected to begin in January.

The Amani Conference has brought together election agencies, security officials, political leaders and other stakeholders to discuss national cohesion, electoral preparedness and measures to secure an inclusive and peaceful 2027 General Election.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli said peaceful elections could not be delivered by the police alone, describing election security as a shared responsibility.

“Peaceful elections cannot be achieved by police alone. Security is a shared responsibility. It calls for you and me and other members of the public to unite,” Masengeli said.

He cited IEBC, NCIC, the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, political leaders, civil society, religious organisations, the media and citizens as critical players in preventing election-related violence.

Masengeli said the National Police Service would remain neutral during the election and protect all Kenyans regardless of their political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.

“Our role is not to take sides but to protect the space within which citizens can freely exercise their democratic rights,” he said.

He said police officers would continue receiving training in election security management, crowd control, human rights, de-escalation and the responsible use of force.

Masengeli also urged politicians to run issue-based campaigns and avoid inflammatory language that could trigger violence.

“The National Police Service is prepared, committed and ready to work with all stakeholders to safeguard a peaceful 2027 General Election,” he said.

Political Parties Liaison Committee chairperson Evans Misati, meanwhile, warned that the country must confront the risk of political violence before the campaign season intensifies.

He said recent incidents in Nakuru and other parts of the country showed that election-related violence was not merely a theoretical concern.

“This is not an academic debate but an immediate threat facing our dear nation on the ground,” Misati said.

He urged political leaders, particularly lawmakers, to act early and hold political parties accountable to the codes of conduct they have signed.

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