The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed claims that voter registration kits were moved to Uganda as part of an alleged scheme to register foreigners ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The commission said no KIEMS kit has been reported missing, intercepted or unlawfully moved to Uganda or any other foreign country.
The clarification came after a KTN teaser aired claims about alleged movement of voter registration materials across the Kenya-Uganda border, putting the electoral agency under fresh scrutiny.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the claims of illegal voter registration, unlawful transfer of voters and registration of foreigners remained unsubstantiated.
“To date no entity, organization, group or individual has submitted to the Commission any credible evidence supporting any such allegations of illegality and malpractice,” IEBC said.
The commission said the KIEMS kits are its assets and are configured for use by authorised registration officials.
According to IEBC, Registration Officers can delegate operation of the kits to trained Registration Clerks using unique passwords. The clerks are mapped to specific electoral areas and registration is restricted to gazetted registration centres.
IEBC further said it maintained a movement schedule for KIEMS kits during the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted between March 30 and April 28, 2026.
The kits were secured at designated police stations or IEBC offices before being returned to the commission’s warehouses after the exercise.
“All KIEMS kits are accounted for and remain in its lawful custody and under its exclusive control,” the commission said.
The electoral agency also denied claims that foreigners were being registered as voters in Kenya.
IEBC said its constitutional mandate under Article 88 covers the registration of eligible Kenyan citizens holding National Identity Cards or valid passports and the maintenance of the Register of Voters.
It also clarified that it does not issue national identity cards or Kenyan passports.
Those functions fall under State agencies responsible for identification, citizenship and immigration, the commission said.
IEBC said allegations linking it to the issuance of IDs or passports were factually incorrect and could mislead the public about the roles of different government institutions.
The commission also addressed questions surrounding Kenyans living outside the country, including those in neighbouring Uganda.
IEBC said living outside Kenya does not remove a Kenyan citizen’s right to participate in elections.
The commission said it plans to expand diaspora voter registration from the 12 countries covered during the 2022 General Election to 26 countries ahead of the 2027 polls.
IEBC said it would take action where credible evidence of electoral malpractice is presented.
It said such action could include disciplinary measures, criminal investigations and prosecution where culpability is established.
The commission urged Kenyans to rely on verified information as it continues preparations for the August 10, 2027 General Election.
The latest controversy comes amid wider scrutiny of the voter registration system.
On September 18, the High Court ordered IEBC to grant accredited political parties and election observers access to source code and audit logs relating to Continuous Voter Registration, pending determination of a petition.