The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has moved to secure the integrity of the upcoming by-elections, administering the Oath of Secrecy to key officials in Naivasha.

With the mini-polls scheduled for February 26, 2026, the commission is taking no chances. Returning Officers and clerks swore to protect ballot confidentiality, a ritual that carries heavy legal weight. The by-elections, covering Isiolo South (MP), Kabras West (Kakamega), and wards in Embu, are seen as a litmus test for the reconstituted commission.

Testing the Systems

IEBC Director of Legal Services Chrispine Owiye, who oversaw the ceremony, emphasized that any breach of the oath would be met with the full force of the law. The meeting also served as a planning hub to iron out logistical kinks that have plagued past exercises.

• The Battlegrounds: The Isiolo South seat is particularly hotly contested, with UDA and ODM proxy wars expected to play out.
• The Integrity Question: After the controversies of 2022, the IEBC is under immense pressure to deliver a flawless process.
• The Staff: The gazetted officers will manage voter identification, counting, and the transmission of results.

As the political temperature rises, the IEBC’s message is clear: the referee is ready. Whether the players will play by the rules is another matter entirely.