As the country prepares for the 2027 General Election, I joined my fellow Commissioners and colleagues at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for a strategic review of the Commission’s Voter Education, Partnerships and Communications documents.
I was honored to represent the IEBC Chairperson during the opening of the workshop, which I attended alongside Commissioners Marykaren Sorobit and Dr. Alutalala Mukhwana, as well as Hassan Noor Hassan, EBS.
This review is an important step in ensuring that our policies, the National Voter Education Curriculum, operations manuals, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) remain relevant, practical and responsive to the changing electoral environment.
Our responsibility as a Commission goes beyond conducting elections. We must also ensure that citizens have access to accurate, timely and understandable information that enables them to participate meaningfully in the electoral process.
The public outreach policies and communication frameworks of the Commission are therefore deliberately designed to support the delivery of our constitutional mandate, vision and mission. As the information environment continues to evolve, particularly through new technologies, digital platforms and changing media consumption patterns, we must continuously adapt the way we engage with citizens.
The documents we are reviewing are important instruments that will guide our journey towards the 2027 General Election. They must be firmly grounded in the principles of trust, transparency, inclusion and accountability, while remaining aligned with the Constitution and responsive to emerging technologies and the information needs of our citizens.
I believe that effective voter education and communication should leave no one behind. Our frameworks must therefore take into account the diverse needs of all stakeholders, including young people, persons with disabilities, women, marginalized communities and citizens who may face barriers to accessing electoral information.
The workshop brings together IEBC staff and stakeholders involved in curriculum, policy and communication development. Their collective experience and contribution will be essential in identifying gaps, strengthening existing frameworks and developing practical approaches that can effectively support the 2027 electoral process.
As we undertake this review, our focus remains clear: to strengthen public confidence, promote informed participation and ensure that every citizen can access credible information about the electoral process.
The 2027 General Election presents an opportunity to deepen our commitment to an inclusive, transparent and accountable electoral process. Preparing for it requires not only sound systems and procedures, but also effective engagement with the people we serve.
Our work continues.
#2027GE #YourVoteYourVoice
