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IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon \/HANDOUT<\/p>\nIEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon \/HANDOUT<\/p>\n
The Independent Electoral and
\nBoundaries Commission (IEBC) now says it will be forced to regulate use of
\nmobile phones inside a polling station by voters.<\/p>\n
The
\nelectoral agency warned of a trend of voters taking pictures of marked ballots
\nand sharing them online in total violation of electoral rules.<\/p>\n
According to IEBC, the acts, which threaten the integrity of the
\nelections were witnessed during the last by-election late last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the widespread use of
\nsmartphones, the commission has observed a growing trend of voters using mobile
\nphones inside polling stations. This conduct was observed during the
\nby-elections held on 27th November 2025, where some voters photographed their
\nmarked ballot papers and shared those images on social media,\u201d chairman Erustus
\nEthekon said.<\/p>\n
He said the secrecy of the ballot is a constitutional right
\nguaranteed under Article 38(3)(b) and 81 (e) (i) of the constitution and is a
\nfundamental principle of democratic elections.<\/p>\n
Any act that compromises this secrecy, Ethekon warned, including
\nphotographing or recording a marked ballot paper, undermines the integrity of
\nthe electoral process, exposes voters to undue influence, coercion and
\nvote-buying and constitutes an electoral offence.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo prevent such occurrences, the commission will apply
\nadministrative control measures at polling stations. These measures are
\nintended solely to protect voters and uphold the integrity of the electoral
\nprocess,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ethekon spoke ahead of the Thursday by-election.<\/p>\n
The vacant seats include Isiolo
\nSouth constituency in Isiolo county, West Kabras ward seat,\u00a0 (Kakamega
\ncounty), Mumini ward seat and Evurore ward seat in Embu county.<\/p>\n
Ethekon said key milestones that
\ninclude completion of procurement of election materials, gazettement of
\nnominated candidates, polling stations and tallying centres, servicing,
\ntesting, configuration and readiness of the Kenya Integrated Election
\nManagement System (Kiems) kits for deployment have been achieved.<\/p>\n
Others include packaging and dispatch of all strategic and
\nnon-strategic election materials including ballot papers to the respective
\nelectoral areas; and training of election officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commission further reminds the
\npublic that voters who require assistance due to disability, illiteracy or
\nother lawful reasons are entitled to be assisted by a person of their own
\nchoice. However, only one assistant is permitted, and no person shall assist
\nmore than one voter,\u201d Ethekon said.<\/p>\n
During previous by-elections, the commission noted concerns regarding
\nthe presence of unauthorised persons, intimidation and references to so-called
\n\u201csuper agents\u201d within polling and tallying centres.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach participating political party or candidate is entitled to
\none agent per polling station, and only one chief agent per candidate is
\nallowed at a tallying centre.<\/p>\n
There is no provision in law for \u201csuper
\nagents\u201d or any unauthorised persons to operate within polling or tallying
\ncentres.\u201d<\/p>\n
The IEBC boss said politicians, political party officials, state
\nofficers and public officers who are registered voters are entitled to vote
\nonly at their designated polling stations and that they are not permitted to
\nmove from one polling station to another.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo person shall be admitted into a polling station if that
\nperson is wearing a badge, clothing, symbol, or any other item signifying
\nsupport for a political party or candidate,\u201d Ethekon said.<\/p>\n
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