IEBC, Interior Ministry accused of working in cahoots over ID and voter enlisting

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the National Registration Bureau (NRB) have been accused of selectively registering voters and issuing national identity cards in regions perceived to be supportive of the government ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Sources within the IEBC and NRB have alleged that officers from the two institutions, together with Deputy County Commissioners (DCCs) and constituency returning officers, have formed a team tasked with facilitating voter registration using the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits.

The KIEMS kit is a biometric voter registration system used to capture a voter’s facial image, fingerprints and other registration details.

The NRB, whose portfolio falls under the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, is responsible for the registration and issuance of national identity cards to Kenyan citizens aged 18 and above.

The IEBC, which is constitutionally mandated to register voters and maintain the voters’ register, handles voter registration. Kenyan law provides that citizens aged 18 and above can register as voters using a national identity card or Kenyan passport.

The allegations have raised questions about the timing and transparency of voter registration, particularly if registration is taking place outside officially announced exercises.

Under the law, voter registration is a continuous process, although the IEBC may conduct enhanced registration exercises during specified periods. In March 2026, the commission gazetted an Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration exercise that ran from March 30 to April 28, after which registration was to revert to constituency offices.

One source alleged that the exercise was targeting areas perceived to be government strongholds.

“Persons are being registered as ID card holders and then enlisted as voters by the IEBC officials who are working together with those from the Ministry of Interior are in areas perceived to support President William Ruto’s administration or his so called strongholds,” the source said.

The source further alleged that ID registration was taking place in border areas, including Endebess Subcounty in Trans Nzoia County, Busia County and Mandera, and claimed that foreigners from Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia were being targeted.

Another source said the enhanced ID and voter registration exercise in selected areas began in April after President William Ruto expressed concern over voter apathy and low rates of identity card registration in the Rift Valley.

According to the source, the President had cited figures indicating that approximately 500,000 youths in the region lacked identity cards, while another 1.8 million eligible ID holders had not registered as voters.

The source alleged that the President’s handlers subsequently formed a unit and approached some IEBC officials to facilitate the deployment of biometric registration equipment in areas perceived as government strongholds.

An IEBC official who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity questioned the legality and independence of the exercise.

“The ongoing registration is illegal since it has not been gazetted, the commission should also be working independently but it now seems to be receiving orders from the Ministry of Interior which is against the Constitution,” the official said.

Opposition raises alarm

Opposition politicians have separately raised concerns over alleged irregular issuance of identification documents and voter registration.

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi and officials from the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) have called for investigations into the claims.

Kalonzo has alleged that some Ugandans were being issued with Kenyan identification documents ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He urged the IEBC to investigate the claims, linking the alleged registration of Ugandans to what he described as President Ruto’s political calculations ahead of the election.

“IEBC, nataka mchunguze swala hili. Ikiwa IEBC imetoka Kenya, ikavuka mpaka upande wa Chwele, inaanza kupatia Waganda wengine ID, tunataka tujue,” Kalonzo said.

The Wiper leader questioned whether the alleged move was intended to increase support for Ruto in the 2027 election.

“Ruto amefanya hesabu, hesabu haingiani. Anarukia Waganda aswa wamsaidie,” he said.

Kalonzo made the remarks in Hola, Tana River County, on September 13. His claims have been reported by several media outlets, but the allegations have not been independently established.

Dr Peter Mbae, DCP Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs, alleged that voter registration was taking place in parts of Nakuru County, including Kuresoi North, Kuresoi South, Rongai and Njoro constituencies.

He accused the electoral commission of partiality and bias towards the government.

“The biggest impediment to a peaceful election next year is actually people we have entrusted with our taxes to do exactly that because they are falling prey to manipulation by the executive,” Mbae said.

Muturi's earlier claims

In January, former Attorney General Justin Muturi claimed that officials from the NRB and IEBC had met over an alleged scheme to manipulate voter data.

Muturi alleged that Ruto was planning to use national identification data of young people to influence the outcome of the 2027 General Election.

He further claimed that the alleged actions could facilitate the use of improperly obtained identification records to interfere with electoral outcomes.

The IEBC denied the allegations, reiterating its commitment to transparency and electoral integrity.

The commission said its data-handling processes were lawful and guided by the Constitution and electoral laws. It also clarified that collaboration with other government agencies was routine and necessary for voter registration and verification.

The IEBC cited Article 88(4) of the Constitution and Sections 4 and 6 of the Elections Act, 2011, saying it is mandated to maintain an accurate and up-to-date voters’ register while operating independently.

The commission said its engagement with government agencies was aimed at verifying identity details and removing deceased persons from the voters’ register.

“In fulfilling this constitutional and statutory mandate, the commission is required to work with relevant government agencies that are the lawful custodians of lawful and relevant data to the execution of its mandate,” the IEBC statement read in part.

The commission listed the NRB, Civil Registration Services and the Directorate of Immigration Services among the agencies it works with to verify identity and passport details, particularly for Kenyans living abroad who are eligible to register as voters.

The IEBC said data-sharing arrangements with public and private institutions were conducted within legal frameworks to ensure identity verification, compliance and fraud prevention.

It also reassured Kenyans that the voters’ register remained under its exclusive custody and control, with personal data safeguarded under the Constitution, the Elections Act and the Data Protection Act, 2019.

The commission urged political actors to refrain from making unverified and inflammatory statements that could undermine public confidence in electoral processes and its independence.

Previous ID fraud cases

Concerns over the unlawful issuance of Kenyan identity cards to foreign nationals are not new.

In January 2026, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced the arrest of nine suspects in connection with an alleged scheme involving the unlawful issuance of national identity cards and other government documents.

The suspects included five NRB officers, two brokers and two foreign nationals. The DCI said investigators recovered several documents during a raid in Zimmerman, including Ugandan identity cards and a Democratic Republic of Congo voter’s card.

The NRB officers charged in the case were Titus Muasya Nthenge, Judy Kemto, Festus Bahat Chai, Moses Mogaya and Ruth Osebe. They were arraigned alongside brokers Yahya Daudi and Abdikadir Mohamed Dahir, who were accused of acting as intermediaries in the alleged fraudulent acquisition of identity cards.

The two foreign nationals were identified as Burundian national Mauris Havyarimana and Rwandese national Victor Kamanda.

“Also arrested were two foreigners: a Burundian national, Mauris Havyarimana, and a Rwandese national, Victor Kamanda. During a raid conducted in Zimmerman, detectives recovered 19 stamps from various government agencies, three driving licences, each bearing different licence numbers but all belonging to Kamanda, Ugandan ID cards, a Democratic Republic of Congo voter's card and several other incriminating items believed to have been used in the illegal operation,” the DCI said.

The suspects were presented before the Kahawa Law Courts by detectives from the Transnational Organised Crime Unit, where they pleaded not guilty.

The court granted each accused person a bond of Sh500,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh50,000, with one contact person.

The latest allegations come as political parties and leaders intensify preparations for the 2027 General Election, placing renewed focus on the integrity of the national identification system and the voters’ register.