Rebuilding Public Trust in Electoral Institutions

I attended the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) 30th Annual International Conference in Mombasa, held under the theme “Resilient Governance for Thriving Economies.” I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion on rebuilding public trust in electoral institutions alongside distinguished leaders and governance experts.
During the discussion, I likened the electoral process to the role of a midwife: just as a midwife ensures the safe delivery of a child without determining the gender, the Commission facilitates the electoral process without influencing the outcome. This reflects our commitment to delivering a transparent, credible, free, fair, and inclusive electoral process.
I also emphasized that protecting electoral institutions is a shared responsibility. While public scrutiny remains necessary, sustained attacks on institutions can erode confidence and weaken their effectiveness. I encouraged Kenyans to uphold patience and trust in institutional processes while continuing to demand accountability.
Further, I highlighted the need to strengthen institutional capacity through continuous staff training, adequate resourcing, and proper management of the Register of Voters and election materials. Elections are resource-intensive, and sufficient funding is essential for effective implementation.
I concluded by noting that credible elections depend on collaboration among all stakeholders, including government, the electoral body, voters, and citizens. Through such collective effort, we can deliver transparent, inclusive, free, and fair elections that build trust and strengthen our democracy.

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