The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana has said that mistrust in Kenya’s electoral system is a long-standing challenge, rooted in history rather than the current commission.
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In an interview with Citizen TV on Monday morning, Mukhwana noted that doubts about the electoral body can be traced back to the reintroduction of multi-party politics in 1992.
“The trust question is historical and not unique to this commission,” he explained, adding that reforms must address deep-seated systemic issues that have undermined public confidence for decades.
To improve voter experience, Mukhwana revealed plans to expand access during elections. Each constituency will now have four kits — two to ease congestion and two additional mobile kits to allow voters to cast ballots in alternative polling stations within their home constituency.
This initiative seeks to resolve past logistical challenges such as long queues and technical hitches with electronic voter systems, while also making it easier for groups like youth, urban workers, and diaspora returnees to vote.
His remarks come as Parliament deliberates the IEBC Amendment Bill, with stakeholders pushing for reforms to rebuild public trust ahead of the next general election.
Speaking separately on Spice FM, Mukhwana acknowledged public concerns about commissioners’ impartiality, saying some Kenyans assume political bias based on past professional ties.
“People link us to leaders we’ve worked with before and conclude we cannot be neutral,” he said. However, he emphasized that prior professional engagements do not compromise their service.
“We are citizens like everyone else, and the Constitution does not prohibit anyone from serving simply because of past interactions with political figures,” Mukhwana added.
