The Law Society of Kenya has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of mishandling the recent by-elections held in 22 regions across the country. In its statement, the society said the polls were full of serious irregularities that raised questions about the IEBC’s ability to deliver credible elections ahead of the 2027 General Election.
LSK noted that the by-elections were marked by voter bribery, intimidation, violence, and an excessive number of police officers at several polling stations.
The society said these incidents showed a clear failure in election management and called for immediate action to prevent similar problems in the future.
According to LSK President Faith Odhiambo, the electoral commission still has a long way to go before it can guarantee fairness and transparency in national polls.
Odhiambo added that Kenya’s political passion should never be allowed to turn into chaos, warning that the disorder seen in the recent by-elections could undo years of democratic progress.
She urged the IEBC to return to work and begin correcting the mistakes witnessed during the polls, noting that any delays would only worsen public mistrust in the commission.
In their detailed statement, LSK warned that the country is slowly slipping toward political instability if electoral misconduct continues unchecked.
The organisation said it had monitored the by-elections closely and was disturbed by the level of chaos and even bloodshed in some areas. It stressed that elections must never reach such levels of disorder, as this threatens the peace and stability that Kenyans have fought hard to achieve.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, LSK stated that the IEBC must urgently address unfulfilled constitutional requirements and strengthen its systems.
The society insisted that Kenya cannot afford a repeat of what happened during the by-elections, calling it a dangerous sign of what could happen if reforms are not implemented quickly.
LSK also demanded strong deterrent measures against those who engage in electoral violence. It urged the IEBC and security agencies to begin investigations into violations of Section 11 of the Elections Offenses Act, which forbids the use of violence during polls.
The organisation further called on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to move swiftly in prosecuting those found guilty.
In addition, LSK appealed to the Judiciary, civil society, security organs, and political parties to come together and discuss ways to prevent violence ahead of 2027.
The society emphasised that safeguarding the integrity of elections is a shared responsibility and warned that ignoring the warning signs could plunge the country into deeper conflict.
