NAIROBI — In a country where electoral distrust is almost a national pastime, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon has drawn a line in the sand. Speaking to a hushed room of stakeholders at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Monday, Ethekon declared the era of the stolen vote dead and buried.

“Stealing an election in this country is an impossibility,” Ethekon stated, his voice cutting through the hum of the post-election debrief. “Every action at the polling station leaves a trace, every result is publicly verifiable, and every KIEMS transmission is securely logged.”

The bold assertion comes just months after Ethekon took the helm of the electoral body in July 2025, following a two-year vacuum at the commission. For the average Kenyan trader in Gikomba or farmer in Eldoret, this promise is not just about ballot papers—it is about the stability that keeps businesses open and food prices predictable.

The Digital Shield

Ethekon’s confidence rests on the performance of the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) during the November 27 by-elections. According to the Commission, the kits achieved a 99 percent functionality rate—a statistic that, if held in a general election, would mark a historic turning point for Kenyan democracy.

“Our systems have held firm,” Ethekon told the gathering of diplomats, civil society actors, and political party agents. “The transparency is there. The audit trail is there. That is why we can confidently say manipulation is not just difficult, but impossible without immediate detection.”

He detailed a three-tier verification process that he claims creates a “glass house” around the vote:

• Real-Time Transmission: Results forms are uploaded to the public portal instantly from the polling station.
• Physical Verification: Agents and media verify the physical forms against the digital image before tallying.
• The Digital Footprint: Every user on the KIEMS kit leaves an immutable digital log, making "ghost voting" traceable to specific devices and officers.

The 'Super Agent' Menace

While the technology held up, the human element remains the Commission's biggest headache. Ethekon issued a stern warning to what he termed “super agents”—senior politicians who attempt to hijack the process by intimidating presiding officers.

“Elections do not belong to politicians. Elections belong to the people,” he warned. “Why harass our officers if you are truly popular? Attempts to secure an illegitimate win only show insecurity.”

The Chairperson noted that while the November polls were largely peaceful, there were isolated incidents of harassment in constituencies like Kasipul and Mbeere North. He emphasized that the Commission is now working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to ensure these “super agents” face the full force of the law.

The 5% Gap

Despite the bullish tone, the Commission admitted the system is not yet perfect. Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana, also speaking at the forum, rated the IEBC’s performance at 95 percent. The remaining five percent, he argued, falls on state agencies and the political class.

“As the IEBC, we did 95 percent,” Mukhwana explained. “But an election must be free in the sense that a citizen can walk to a polling station without fear. That security aspect lies with the state.”

Voter apathy also remains a critical challenge. Turnout in the recent by-elections was lower than anticipated, a signal that while Kenyans may trust the machines more, they are growing weary of the politics itself.

As the country pivots toward the high-stakes 2027 General Election, Ethekon’s “impossibility” doctrine will face its ultimate test. For now, he has thrown down the gauntlet: the system is ready, but are the politicians?