Only 18 per cent of Kenyans trust IEBC ahead of 2027 poll – TIFA

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) faces a major legitimacy test ahead of the 2027 elections, with only 18 per cent of Kenyans expressing strong trust in the institution.

Nearly half of the population, 48 per cent, said they are not confident at all in the commission, reflecting deep public scepticism about its credibility and ability to oversee free and fair polls.

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The TIFA poll compared data across three periods: August 2022, May 2025, and September 2025, showing little improvement in public trust over time.

In August 2022, only 18 per cent were very confident, while in May 2025, confidence rose slightly to 20 per cent before returning to 18 per cent in September.

TIFA noted that the figures highlight the urgent need to restore public confidence in the electoral body.

“With less than one in five citizens expressing strong trust, the IEBC faces a serious challenge to convince voters that it can deliver credible and transparent elections,” the report said.

The polls come a month before IEBC conducts by-elections scheduled for November 27, 2025, a move that is viewed as a litmus test of the commission’s preparedness.

The by-elections will fill vacant MCA, MP, and senatorial seats across several counties, with political parties and independent candidates required to meet the commission’s nomination and resignation deadlines.

The doubt from Kenyans comes a month after Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chair Erastus Ethekon assured Kenyans that the August 2027 general elections will be free, fair, and transparent, dismissing fears of vote-rigging as “impossible.”

He emphasised that Kenya’s electoral system is strictly regulated by law and provides clear avenues for candidates to challenge results through the courts if dissatisfied.

Ethekon emphasised that the commission is fully prepared, with legal frameworks in place for candidates to challenge results if dissatisfied.

He reiterated that the commission’s focus is on transparent, credible, and lawful elections, urging citizens and stakeholders to support its efforts in rebuilding trust in the electoral process.