I joined IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon and key stakeholders during the Local Project Appraisal Committee (LPAC) meeting for the UNDP-led Elections Project document, as part of ongoing preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The meeting brought together development partners, security agencies and representatives of women, youth and gender-focused groups to finalize the Elections Basket Fund framework, an important partnership mechanism aimed at supporting Kenya’s technical and institutional readiness for a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful electoral process.
The Elections Project document is anchored on five priority areas identified through the 2025 Needs Assessment Mission. These include enhancing the participation of youth, women and persons living with disabilities; strengthening stakeholder engagement and communication; providing capacity building and technical assistance; supporting electoral security, preparedness and early risk coordination; and promoting information integrity in response to misinformation, disinformation and online harm.
The breadth of these priorities reflects the increasingly complex nature of modern elections and the need for electoral preparedness to go beyond the administration of polling and results. Building a credible electoral process requires inclusive participation, effective communication, institutional capacity, security preparedness and the ability to protect citizens from harmful and misleading information.
Chairperson Erastus Ethekon emphasized that elections are a continuous journey that requires collaboration, accountability and shared responsibility among electoral institutions, development partners, security agencies, civil society and citizens. He noted that partnerships such as the Elections Basket Fund are important in building trust, legitimacy and confidence in electoral processes.
The engagement reaffirmed the value of sustained partnerships in preparing for the 2027 General Election. Collaboration with UNDP and other stakeholders provides an opportunity to strengthen institutional capacity, widen participation and address emerging challenges while ensuring that the electoral process remains inclusive, peaceful and responsive to the needs of all Kenyans.
As preparations for 2027 continue, coordinated support and shared commitment will remain essential in building an electoral environment in which every eligible citizen can participate meaningfully and have confidence in the integrity of the democratic process.
