I joined electoral leaders and senior officials from across the region at the Regional Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) Capacity-Building and Experience-Sharing Programme held in Machakos, Kenya.
Convened under the auspices of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), with technical support from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), the programme brought together Commissioners and senior electoral officials from Kenya, Seychelles, Malawi and Uganda for peer learning, experience sharing and discussions on strengthening electoral governance.
The engagement provided an important opportunity to examine emerging issues shaping election administration across the region. Discussions covered institutional independence, leadership and decision-making, stakeholder engagement, electoral dispute resolution and crisis communication, alongside the growing impact of misinformation, disinformation, artificial intelligence and digital technologies on electoral processes.
Representing the IEBC Chairperson, Commissioner Dr. Alutalala Mukhwana emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and continuous learning in developing resilient electoral institutions. Sharing experiences across jurisdictions allows electoral management bodies to learn from one another, identify practical approaches to emerging challenges and adapt best practices to their respective electoral environments.
The programme also highlighted the increasingly interconnected nature of modern electoral processes. As technology continues to transform how citizens receive information and engage with elections, electoral institutions must remain responsive, innovative and prepared to address new risks while protecting the integrity of democratic processes.
For the IEBC, participation in such regional forums reflects our commitment to continuous institutional learning, innovation and the adoption of regional and international best practices. These engagements are valuable in strengthening electoral capacity and contributing to elections that are credible, transparent, inclusive and trusted by citizens.
Regional cooperation and knowledge exchange remain important as electoral institutions across Africa continue to navigate evolving challenges and work towards strengthening public confidence in democracy.
