Kalonzo Musyoka Warns of Electoral Crisis as He Demands Accountability from IEBC
By Peace Muthoka
Nairobi 20, November, 2025 – Kalonzo Musyoka has warned that Kenya is sliding toward an electoral crisis unless the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) urgently restores public trust. Speaking at the SKM Command Centre, he said the State of the Nation cannot be separated from the credibility of the country’s elections.
Kalonzo said democracy survives only when citizens believe in the system. Yet today, he argued, that belief is weakening. He noted that the new IEBC commissioners were appointed in a manner that ignored the spirit of consultation agreed upon during the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) process. As a result, he said many Kenyans fear the commission remains vulnerable to political influence.
He stressed that the country expected the new team to rebuild confidence. However, early signs from the ongoing voter registration exercise have raised fresh doubts.
Kalonzo criticised the IEBC for introducing mandatory iris-scanning without proper public engagement. He said Kenyans do not understand how the technology works, and instead of encouraging participation, it is discouraging many from registering. This has now created a voter register with two different standards some voters with iris data and others without a situation he said threatens fairness.
He also faulted the decision to limit registration to constituency offices during working hours only. He said this model locks out workers, students, and young people who cannot access the centres in such a narrow timeframe. He urged the commission to extend the exercise to all days of the week and to take services down to the ward level to ensure inclusivity.
Kalonzo demanded full transparency in the deployment of registration kits, their unique identifiers, and the staff handling them. Without complete openness, he said, suspicion will grow and trust will fade.
He reminded Kenyans that elections are not stolen only on voting day. Instead, he said manipulation often begins quietly during registration, where oversight is weakest. Because of this, he urged the public to remain vigilant as the country approaches the November 27 by-elections and later the 2027 General Election.
Kalonzo also condemned what he described as the misuse of state resources during campaigns. He accused senior government officials of openly violating electoral laws, saying such actions tilt the playing field and weaken public confidence.
He further raised alarm over reports that voters are being asked to photograph their ballot choices in exchange for Sh5,000. He called the practice a direct assault on democracy, arguing that it seeks to buy not only votes but the conscience of citizens.
Kalonzo also noted that IEBC must rise to the moment, act transparently, and protect the will of the people. He said Kenya’s future, stability, and democracy depend on how the commission conducts itself in the coming months.
