A recent survey by Infotrak, a leading research and consulting company, revealed that a majority of Kenyans have little to no faith in the electoral process.
In concerning data shared by the company on Monday, 16 December, 33% of respondents agreed with the notion that “No matter how people vote, the government’s preferred presidential candidate will be declared the winner.”
Meanwhile, 25% of Kenyans believed the opposite, agreeing with the statement that “No matter what the government does, the popular presidential candidate with the majority votes will be declared the winner.”
The research also uncovered intriguing trends regarding Kenyans’ perceptions of the country’s electoral agencies, just three years ahead of the next general elections.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga flanked President William Ruto as he assented to the IEBC Bill at the KICC on July 9.
Moses Wetang’ula
According to Infotrak’s data, many young people—who are expected to make up a significant portion of the electorate in 2027—are not registered as voters. The most common reason cited was a lack of trust in the electoral process.
Sixteen per cent of respondents claimed they were too busy to register, while another 16% stated there was no point in registering as they believed the elections were pre-determined. Additionally, 10% of those yet to register said they were unaware of the voter registration process.
Diving deeper into perceptions of the IEBC
The survey also sought Kenyans’ views on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and its ability to conduct free and fair elections. Only 26% of respondents expressed confidence in the agency, while 54% admitted to a significant trust deficit.
Among those who trusted the IEBC, 38% cited the body’s past good performance, and 42% pointed to the prospect of new commissioners and the commission’s independence as reasons for their confidence in the agency’s ability to deliver credible polls.
On the other hand, the majority who lacked trust in the IEBC highlighted concerns such as a lack of transparency, past irregularities, and potential political interference by the government.
Most of the respondents who did not trust the IEBC were from North Eastern, Eastern, Central, Nyanza, and Nairobi regions.
Challenges facing the IEBC
When asked about the key challenges facing the IEBC, Kenyans identified external interference as a primary issue. Corruption (38%) and a lack of commissioners (38%) were also highlighted as significant obstacles by respondents.
William Ruto made his maiden speech at the Bomas of Kenya after the former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati announced him President elect on August 15, 2022.
William Ruto