IEBC INSISTS ON BIOMETRIC VOTER IDENTIFICATION FOR 2027 POLLS

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has reaffirmed its commitment to using biometric voter identification in future elections. Speaking on August 6, 2025, at a Nairobi roundtable discussion organized by the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa and attended by the Kenya Editors Guild and the Kenya Union of Journalists, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon dismissed proposals to allow voting with only national ID cards, stating that such changes lack legal backing.

This follows reports that the commission was considering dropping voter cards as a mandatory requirement for the 2027 General Election. The proposal had emerged amid concerns that foreigners, particularly from border regions like North-eastern and Coast, where voter registration vetting has previously been relaxed, could influence the polls. The Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system, introduced ahead of the 2013 elections, captures voters’ facial images, fingerprints, and personal details, including name, gender, ID/passport number, and phone number. Registration takes place at designated centres where voters are expected to cast their ballots.

Data from BVR machines is stored in a centralized server, from which printed registers—featuring voters’ photos are distributed to polling stations for verification. Voters can also confirm their registration details online or via SMS. While BVR is not electronic voting, it lays the groundwork for potential future e-voting systems.

Ethekon confirmed that preparations for upcoming by-elections are nearing completion, with polls expected to conclude by year-end. He also assured that the 2027 General Election will proceed in August unless legally challenged. “We will announce the by-election dates soon and aim to finalize them before December,” he said. “As for 2027, unless the courts intervene, the elections will go on as scheduled.”

He defended the commission’s integrity, stating, “Our elections are strictly regulated by law. We are committed to serving Kenyans transparently.” Ethekon expressed concerns over premature election campaigns and announced plans to consult the Attorney General to clarify when official campaigning should begin. “In Kenya, every event—even funerals—turns into an election platform. Is that campaigning? We need legal clarity,” he said. He emphasized the need for clear guidelines, adding, “This is a critical issue that must be addressed.”

The IEBC chair pledged full transparency ahead of the 2027 polls, vowing, “We won’t tint our windows,” and called for responsible media coverage. Meanwhile, IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan proposed a unified media broadcast signal for the 2027 elections to prevent conflicting vote tallies. He also reaffirmed that the polls will proceed under the 2010 Constitution, countering claims by some politicians that elections might not take place.