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IEBC, Media Stakeholders Sign MoU to Strengthen Election Reporting Ahead of 2027

AMWIK joined the Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC). This partnership establishes a formal framework for cooperation ahead of, during, and after the 2027 General Elections, specifically designed to ensure the delivery of factual, credible, and verifiable electoral information to all citizens.

The agreement, supported by the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA), was signed during a breakfast meeting held alongside discussions on the upcoming Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise.

By bridging the gap between the electoral body and the media, the MOU aims to provide accredited journalists with streamlined access to polling stations and tallying centers, while also establishing a central media center to facilitate real-time information sharing.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the partnership aims to enhance transparency and improve public access to electoral information. “We have significant tasks ahead of us, particularly the management of the 2027 General Election. We are currently preparing for the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration, which will be launched on March 30, 2026, in Shimoni, Kwale County,” he said.

The collaboration goes beyond simple logistics, focusing on deep capacity building and the technical integrity of the electoral process. Key commitments include the development of a joint, universal results tallying system and a central fact-checking mechanism to combat the rising threats of misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content.

Eric Oduor, Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), warned of increased misinformation in the lead-up to the elections and called for deeper engagement between the Commission and the media. “We hope that through our partnership, IEBC will set up a media centre with a fact-checking desk where journalists can work to counter fake news,” he said.

Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) President Zubeida Kananu said that free press and transparency at IEBC are values worth investing in and that the landscape of 2027 is a digital jungle. The landscape involves not only TV, radio and print media but also TikTok, Facebook, X (twitter), and the rise of alternative media.

“We must also prepare for the ‘Deepfake Election.’ This MoU is not merely a peer contract. We expect the Commission to provide accurate information at the right time to dispel rumours before they spread. We have agreed on the rules of engagement and have chosen a partnership based on integrity over convenience,” said Kananu.

Lilian Mahiri-Zaja, a member of the Elgia Afric Board, said the media serves as a mediator, ensuring that the public is engaged, which helps build trust in the electoral process and supports the IEBC in fulfilling its mandate.

Through standardized training on electoral laws and the provision of technical Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for results transmission, this partnership strengthens the relationship between the Commission and the media. Ultimately, these efforts are geared toward building a more inclusive, transparent, and informed democratic landscape for the entire nation.