Media, IEBC raise red flag over early campaigns and hate speech ahead of 2027 polls
Kananu noted that goons are continuously being hired to attend political rallies, threatening the safety of journalists and democracy
Journalists have raised the alarm over the growing political intolerance and continued use of hate speech by politicians ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a media round table with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials in a Nairobi hotel, Kenya Editors Guild President Zubeida Kananu expressed their disappointment with hate speech being spewed by various leaders.
Kananu also noted that goons are continuously being hired to attend political rallies, threatening the safety of journalists and democracy.
She called on IEBC to work closely with police officers and speak firmly against the actions of politicians.
“We are concerned by the growing political wave of intolerance. Political rallies are being disrupted by hired goons. Hate speech and inflammatory remarks are being normalised, with few perpetrators being held accountable. This not only threatens democracy but also the safety of journalists. We urge the commission to speak firmly and act in collaboration with the law enforcers,” Kananu stated.
In response, IECB chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon urged the media to share loopholes that may lead to election violations for sealing to avoid stealing, even though he maintained that there is no possibility of the same.
“Going forward to 2027, I think there will not be stealing of votes. That is an impossibility, but if there are loopholes, bring those pointers to us for their sealing,” he said.
Ethekon added that they are in consultation with the Attorney General on what qualifies as early campaigning ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He said the commission is concerned about rising political activity and aims to define clear campaign timelines to ensure fairness and order in the electoral process.
“In Kenya, every day, every hour feels like an election campaign. When someone goes to a funeral, they talk about elections. Does that mean it is a campaign? What IEBC can do is talk with the Attorney General on campaigns and define it, including what the timelines are. It is an area of concern and a matter we need to keep in mind,” Ethekon added.
The IEBC chief said that they are committed to an early, open, and structured engagement with the media; reviewing and renewing their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reflect new realities especially around technology, AI, and the digital information space; supporting joint training and capacity building’ strengthening access to timely and accurate data; and ensuring that journalists can perform their duties safely and professionally.
Reflecting on the 2022 elections, Ethekon said there were gains in access to information, real-time updates, and media training but the commission also faced real difficulties, including uncoordinated tallying that led to public confusion, the spread of misinformation, accreditation delays and isruptions that affected operations at the National Tallying Centre.
On his part, IEBC Chief Executive Officer Hussein Marjan acknowledged that during elections, Kenyans need to be updated on every single electoral process to improve their confidence in the commission.
“Access to accurate information and every single stage of the electoral process is vital in sustaining public confidence, and this is why the commission is committed to working with the media openly, constructively and consistently,” Marjan remarked.
