The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed as fake a viral social media post claiming that it was in the process of purging over two million ghost voters from its register ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a statement released via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the IEBC termed the claims as “false and misleading,” and clarified that no such audit has been commissioned. The post, which falsely attributed the alleged audit to the purported incoming IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon, claimed that counties like Kiambu, Meru, Nairobi, and Nyeri were hotspots for ghost voters.
The IEBC swiftly moved to discredit the post, stating, “Please note that the commission currently neither has a chairperson nor members of the commission. Therefore, any information circulating on social media is null and void.”
The commission emphasized that it remains without a substantive leadership team following a court order halting the appointment of new commissioners. President William Ruto had gazetted the appointment of Ethekon and six other commissioners on June 10, despite a conservatory order from the High Court issued on May 29. The order came in response to a petition filed by activists Boniface Mwangi and Kelvin Roy Omondi challenging the legality and transparency of the selection process.
Although Parliament had completed the vetting process, the court barred any formal appointments until the matter is fully adjudicated. On June 24, the court declined to hold President Ruto in contempt, affirming that all accused are entitled to due process.
With the IEBC still inoperative at the commissioner level, concerns continue to mount over its preparedness to undertake crucial electoral reforms, including any updates to the voter register. The absence of a functional commission leaves a vacuum at a time when Kenyans are looking ahead to the 2027 polls.
The IEBC has urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information and to rely solely on its official communication channels for accurate updates.
