IEBC, DCI Deny cross-border vote smuggling allegations as The Standard defends investigation

The Standard’s cross-border vote smuggling investigation continued to draw strong reactions on Monday, with both the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) issuing formal statements denying the allegations and questioning the timing of the report.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said in a statement released on Sunday evening that allegations of illegal voter registration, unlawful voter transfers, and the registration of foreigners remained "unsubstantiated and untrue."

"To date, no entity, organisation, group, or individual has submitted to the Commission any credible evidence supporting any such allegations of illegality and malpractice," Ethekon said.

The controversy centres on an investigative feature by The Standard that unearthed and confirmed claims that Ugandan nationals have been facilitated to acquire Kenyan IDs and voter cards in border areas, including Suam, Kapchorwa, and Bukwo.

The Standard's investigation featured testimonies from Ugandans, who claimed the process was "very easy" and that many were "waiting for next year." These claims have prompted renewed scrutiny of the vetting mechanisms used by the National Registration Bureau, which relies on local administrators to verify citizenship before issuing IDs.

For a second day after the explosive allegations were published, the National Registration Bureau and the National Police Service had not responded to The Standard's inquiries by the time of publication

While responding to the allegations, the Commission clarified that its constitutional mandate under Article 88 is limited to registering eligible Kenyan citizens who possess National Identity Cards or valid passports.

"Any association or references to the IEBC in relation to the issuance of IDs or passports is factually incorrect, malicious, intended to misinform, and risks misleading the public," Ethekon said.

Addressing the specific claim that KIEMS kits were moved across the border, Ethekon stated that during the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted between March 30 and April 28, 2026, all equipment remained secured at designated police stations or IEBC offices.

"No KIEMS kit has been misplaced or reported missing, intercepted, or unlawfully moved to unauthorized places or foreign destinations," the Commission stated, adding that all kits are "accounted for and remain in its lawful custody."

Separately, the DCI categorically denied reports that its officers intercepted a vehicle carrying election materials at the Suam border and that an officer involved was later transferred, even though The Standard interviewed police officers who were in the middle of the matter and had full knowledge of what transpired.

"These allegations are false, inaccurate, and wholly without foundation," DCI spokesperson John Marete said. "There is no such officer, no such arrest as portrayed, and no such transfer linked to any electoral investigation as described in the report. The publication is therefore misleading."

The Directorate specifically faulted KTN News for failing to seek a response before airing the report, stating that "responsible journalism on matters of national security and electoral integrity requires verification and an opportunity for the institution concerned to respond."

The Standard Group, however, has evidence that it tried several times to get comments from the mentioned parties, albeit unsuccessfully.

The DCI also raised concerns about the timing of the report, which was published as the country begins preparations for the 2027 General Elections.

"No officer of the DCI is above the law, and no officer is instructed to abandon a lawful investigation," Marete said.

Democratic Party leader JB Muturi called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to explain remarks allegedly made during his recent visit to Uganda regarding voter registration activities.

"If credible evidence exists of unlawful voter registration or foreign interference in our electoral process, the matter must be investigated and those responsible held personally accountable in accordance with the law," Muturi said.

Muturi urged the IEBC to summon Murkomen and require him to clarify his remarks. "Kenya's sovereignty is not negotiable, and our elections cannot be compromised," he stated.

The Ukombozi Alliance has formally called for a comprehensive investigation into border ID issuance, warning that the integrity of the 2027 election is already under threat before the official voter registration exercise begins.

Online reactions reflected the deep political divisions surrounding the allegations. A user identified as John Mutongoi wrote on X: "This is not only so desperate of Ruto and his regime, but also exposes the country's safety and security. They are so fixated on how to win the next election, that long-term security of the country is of no concern."

As the 2027 election approaches, the central question remains whether the IEBC can produce a voter register that is demonstrably accurate and capable of surviving scrutiny. The Commission says it has registered over 2.6 million new voters since September 2025 and insists its systems are secure.

However, the united opposition argues that without a transparent, evidence-based audit of border registration processes, public confidence in the electoral process will remain fragile.

"Kenyans deserve clear answers on what was said, what evidence supports the claims, and whether any threat to the integrity of the electoral process has occurred," Muturi said.

The unfolding controversy has also renewed debate over the legal and administrative architecture governing citizen identification and voter registration in Kenya.

Lawyer Peter Wena noted that under the Constitution, the registration of voters is a shared responsibility. The National Registration Bureau, operating under the Ministry of Interior, is responsible for issuing National Identity Cards after verifying citizenship through local administrators, chiefs, and assistant county commissioners. The IEBC then registers eligible voters who present those IDs.

"This two-stage process means that any weakness in the initial identification stage can cascade into the voter register," Wena explained. "Article 88(4)(a) of the Constitution mandates the IEBC to conduct continuous registration of citizens as voters, while the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2012, require applicants to present valid identification documents to registration officers at gazetted centres."

The IEBC has repeatedly emphasised that it does not issue IDs and cannot independently verify citizenship beyond the documents presented. That position, while legally accurate, has done little to calm public anxiety.

"If the foundational registration process is compromised, the IEBC's systems cannot detect it," Wena said. "The Commission can only verify that a document is genuine, not that the holder is a genuine Kenyan citizen."

The allegations have also drawn attention to the broader regional context. Kenya and Uganda permit dual citizenship, but both countries require citizens to declare their original nationality when acquiring new documents. Some of those interviewed by The Standard admitted they had obtained documents in both countries without making such a declaration.

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen acknowledged this during his visit to Uganda's Amanang Secondary School on September 25, stating that Kenya would not discriminate against citizens living along the border who qualify for identification documents.

"They have a right to get IDs and other documents," Murkomen said.

The DCI has stated it will formally register its concerns with statutory media standards bodies, while the IEBC has urged anyone with credible evidence to come forward.

"The Commission welcomes constructive engagement and partnership with citizens and stakeholders towards ensuring that the Commission's staff, processes, and procedures are accountable and in compliance with the law," Ethekon said.

With the 2027 General Election now less than a year away, the pressure on the IEBC and the National Registration Bureau to demonstrate the integrity of the voter register is only likely to intensify.

The Commission’s denial of The Standard’s allegations comes amid a broader crisis of confidence in the electoral body, fueled by a series of controversial remarks from senior Kenya Kwanza officials.

On September 10, 2026, UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar suggested that fingerprints of deceased voters could be used to cast ballots for President William Ruto in 2027.

“Even if someone has died, we should take their fingerprint before they are buried, use it in the BVR system, and cast a vote,” Omar said in Mombasa.

The remarks sparked fury, with government spokesperson Charles Owino calling them “careless” and demanding the IEBC take action against Omar. The electoral commission was forced to clarify that its biometric system uses both fingerprint and iris recognition, making it “impossible” for a deceased person to be authenticated at a polling station.

Earlier, on January 25, 2025, Environment CS Aden Duale challenged opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka to substantiate claims about an alleged scheme to rig the 2027 election using “aliens”.

“I want you to tell Kenyans who are these aliens that  President William Ruto wants to turn into voters,” Duale said in Garissa. More recently, Duale confidently predicted Ruto’s re-election, stating: “William Ruto will win in 2027 by two million to three million votes.”

Ethekon condemned such utterances as “reckless, unacceptable, and entirely baseless,” warning that they “instil fear, mislead the public, and erode confidence in the integrity of the electoral system.”

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused the IEBC of plotting to rig the 2027 election through a South Korean technology firm, allegations the Commission has dismissed as unsubstantiated.

With less than a year to the General Election, the Commission’s ability to police political speech and safeguard electoral integrity remains under intense scrutiny.