IEBC dismisses claims of voter smuggling at Kenya-Uganda border

• The Commission added that any alleged malpractice in voter registration and onboarding foreigners to the national voter registry is based on falsehoods.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon during a past appearance. PHOTO | IEBC

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed claims of voter smuggling at the Kenya-Uganda border as the nation gears up for the 2027 General Election.

The claims were made public in an exposé, revealing how some Ugandans have been facilitated to acquire Kenyan IDs amid a national Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to vote illegally.

In a rebuttal on Sunday, IEBC termed the report as "sensationalized and unsubstantiated", arguing that it risks undermining confidence in the electoral process.

The Commission added that any alleged malpractice in voter registration and onboarding foreigners to the national voter registry is based on falsehoods.

"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.

"Where credible evidence is presented, the Commission shall take appropriate action including disciplinary action, investigation into criminal conduct and where culpability is established, criminal prosecution and punishment shall be undertaken in accordance with the laws of Kenya."

In the exposé by KTN, a Ugandan national said that the process of acquiring a Kenyan ID and voter card has been made seamless.

"It is very easy. The same spot they register your Kenyan ID, you move a few desks and you are a registered as a Kenyan voter. Everyone has it; we are only waiting for next year," said a Ugandan national.

More nationals claimed that some locations in Uganda have also been used in the processing of Kenyan IDs.

The IEBC conducted a CVR from September 29 to April 9, 2026, enlisting a total of 2,612,725 new voters.

It has also facilitated 49,502 transfers and 1,066 cases of changing particulars.

In 2022, the Commission had 22.1 million registered voters and targets 28.5 million for the 2027 General Election.

The Commission is also expanding voter registration for citizens residing outside Kenya from 12 to 26 countries, advancing the progressive constitutional right of eligible Kenyans residing outside the country to participate in elections.