Voter Wants IEBC Stopped From 2027 Election Plans

A voter has filed a petition in court seeking to halt all ongoing preparations by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the 2027 General Elections, citing alleged constitutional flaws in Kenya’s electoral and governance system.

In an urgent application before the High Court, petitioner Bernard Mwanzia is asking that the case be treated as a matter of urgency and that “all preparatory activities by the IEBC” be suspended until the case is fully heard and decided.

Mwanzia also wants the court to issue conservatory orders barring the Commission, its agents, or representatives from using public funds on any election-related preparations until the petition is determined.

The IEBC national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya. /BOMAS OF KENYA

According to the filing, Mwanzia argues that the petition raises “serious constitutional questions” about the legality and integrity of the current electoral framework.

He warns that if the court fails to intervene, the IEBC risks wasting large sums of taxpayer money on a process that could later be ruled “unconstitutional or invalid.”

“The balance of convenience tilts in favour of halting preparations until the petition is heard and determined, in order to protect the sovereignty of the people under Article 1 of the Constitution,” the petitioner states.

The case comes as the IEBC continues with the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) drive ahead of the 2027 polls.

On September 15, the Commission announced its plan to register 6.3 million new voters, targeting to expand Kenya’s voter base to about 28 million.

However, two weeks into the exercise, IEBC reported a sluggish turnout—particularly among the youth. As of October 11, the agency recorded 20,754 new registrations, 3,207 voter transfers, and 61 updates nationwide.

The Commission urged young Kenyans who have recently received their national IDs to register as voters.

“While we commend this progress, turnout among the targeted youth remains lower than expected,” IEBC said in a statement.

“With a national target of 6.3 million new voters, the Commission urges all eligible Kenyans, particularly the youth, to take this opportunity to register and make their voices count in the 2027 General Election."