The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has found an unlikely student in the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). As Lusaka gears up for its 2026 general election, a high-level delegation has touched down in Nairobi to study Kenya’s technological infrastructure, specifically the KIEMS kits and the results transmission portal.

The "benchmarking" tour comes at a time when Kenya’s electoral body is itself undergoing radical reforms. ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis praised Kenya’s ability to conduct a high-stakes poll in 2022 without a descent into violence, terming it a "model for the continent." However, civil society groups in Nairobi have raised eyebrows, noting that the IEBC is still grappling with the "opaque" nature of the server logs that contested the last presidential outcome.

The Tech Transfer

Zambia is particularly interested in the biometric voter registration system. "We want to eliminate the phenomenon of ghost voters," the delegation head stated. Kenya’s integration of the civil registry with the voter roll is seen as a gold standard in the region, despite persistent questions about the cost of the technology.

• The Irony: While Zambia comes to learn, Kenyan opposition leaders are currently demanding an audit of the very systems being studied. "It is like learning surgery from a doctor with a pending malpractice suit," quipped a governance expert.
• Regional Trend: This marks a growing trend of "South-South" cooperation, with African nations increasingly looking inwards rather than to the West for technical election assistance.

Preparing for 2026

For Zambia, the stakes are incredibly high. The 2026 vote is expected to be a tight race for President Hakainde Hichilema. By adopting Kenya’s digital safeguards, the ECZ hopes to bulletproof the process against rigging allegations. Whether the "Nairobi Model" will export stability or controversy remains to be seen.