NAIROBI, Kenya - As polls opened at 6:00 AM EAT on Thursday, 27 November 2025, for by-elections in 22 electoral areas across Kenya, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen issued a directive to voters to return home immediately after casting their ballots. The statement, aimed at ensuring peace and preventing disorder, has highlighted the persistent tension between maintaining public order and enabling citizen oversight of the electoral process.

“I want to ask all the voters in different places where we have by-elections, please exercise your right peacefully, and once you vote, go home,” Murkomen stated on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. He warned that the government would not permit loitering around polling stations under the guise of protecting votes, emphasizing that security is the exclusive mandate of the National Police Service (NPS). “The national police service is prepared to arrest all goons intending to disrupt peaceful elections in our country,” he added.

A History of Contention

The phrase “vote and go home” is a recurring theme in Kenya’s electoral history, often promoted by authorities as a measure to curb the potential for violence and intimidation at polling centres. Crowds gathering after polls close have, in past elections, been flashpoints for disputes over vote counting and allegations of rigging. Proponents of the directive argue it is a necessary precaution in a country with a history of electoral-related conflict.

However, the instruction is frequently met with suspicion by opposition parties and civil society groups. Critics argue that it can discourage transparency by preventing voters and party agents from observing the counting and tallying process at the polling station level, which is a critical accountability measure. This view holds that a visible public presence is a deterrent to electoral malpractice. The Elections Observation Group (ELOG), a prominent national observer platform, has consistently advocated for processes that enhance electoral integrity, which includes the role of accredited party agents and observers in monitoring the vote count.

IEBC and Security Protocols

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has affirmed its readiness to conduct free and fair elections, dispatching materials and personnel to all polling stations. According to IEBC regulations, counting and tabulation of votes occur at the polling station immediately after voting ends at 5:00 PM EAT. Accredited party agents, observers, and media are legally permitted to witness this process. The final results form (Form 34A for presidential elections, and equivalents for other positions) is signed by agents and a copy is publicly posted at the station.

The National Police Service (NPS) has also assured the public of robust security measures, coordinating with the IEBC to deploy at least two officers per polling station, with additional units on patrol. In a statement on 13 November 2025, the NPS cautioned politicians against incitement and hate speech, reaffirming its commitment to neutrality and maintaining order.

High Stakes and Public Trust

The by-elections are taking place in a politically charged environment, with recent campaigns in some areas marked by tension. Civil society groups like ELOG have previously raised concerns about the conduct of politicians and the need for public officers to remain politically neutral. The outcomes of these polls are seen as a barometer of the current political landscape, testing the influence of major political formations ahead of the next general election.

CS Murkomen’s directive, therefore, lands on sensitive ground. While his primary responsibility as Interior CS is national security, the call for voters to disperse touches on the core principles of electoral transparency and public confidence. The ability of the IEBC and security forces to manage the process impartially, ensuring that the vote is both peaceful and verifiable, will be critically scrutinized. As results are expected to be transmitted from polling stations later today, the balance between a secure election and a transparent one remains a central issue for Kenya's democracy.