The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The Democratic Party (DP) has expressed alarm over alleged plans to tamper with the voter register following reports of a data-sharing arrangement between the electoral body and the National Registration Bureau (NRB).
DP leader Justin Muturi claimed the party had credible information suggesting that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had secretly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the President under the guise of a data-sharing framework.
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Muturi further alleged that IEBC Acting CEO Moses Sunkuli held discussions with NRB officials on integrating voter data systems, including possible collaboration with private firms such as Smartmatic. According to the DP, these developments raise constitutional, legal, and ethical concerns.
The party warned that any undisclosed agreements involving the Office of the President, especially those touching on voter registration data and national identity systems, could undermine the integrity and transparency of Kenya’s electoral process.
Muturi demanded the immediate publication of any MoU or data-sharing framework between IEBC and the Office of the President, as well as IEBC’s withdrawal from any joint initiatives that might compromise its independence. He cautioned that failure to address the concerns would prompt the United Opposition Coalition to seek court intervention to protect electoral integrity.
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NRB Director General Gilbert Kitiyo was reportedly out of the country and unavailable for comment. However, the IEBC dismissed the allegations on Monday, maintaining that its collaboration with NRB is lawful and above board.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon stated that under Article 88(4) of the Constitution and Sections 4 and 6 of the Elections Act, 2011, the commission is mandated to maintain an accurate voter register while operating independently.
He explained that, in fulfilling this mandate, the commission works with authorized government agencies that legally hold relevant data necessary for its operations. Ethekon added that data-sharing arrangements with both public and private entities are governed by strict legal frameworks to ensure proper identity verification, compliance, and fraud prevention.
He further revealed that the commission has engaged the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services to establish a secure Application Programming Interface (API) link with the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS), ensuring only valid ID and passport details are used.
Ethekon emphasized that the voter register remains solely under IEBC’s custody and control, as stipulated by the Constitution and the Elections Act. He reiterated that all personal data is handled in accordance with the Constitution, the Elections Act, the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, and the Data Protection Act, 2019.
