Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has accused the Kenyan government of planning to interfere with the 2027 General Election. He alleges that government officials have been issuing Kenyan identity cards to Ugandans and registering them as voters. These allegations have also been made by Wafula Buke, a campaigner for democratic rights from Mt. Elgon, who claims that Ugandan citizens are being given Kenyan IDs inside Uganda.
An investigation by The Standard has found evidence that some Ugandans are in possession of Kenyan IDs and have been registered as voters. Several Ugandans interviewed by The Standard claim to have acquired Kenyan IDs and voter registration cards with ease. One Ugandan said that at the same spot where they registered for their Kenyan ID, they could also register as a Kenyan voter.
The process of acquiring a Kenyan ID and voter registration card appears to be straightforward for some Ugandans. Another Ugandan interviewed by The Standard said they acquired their Kenyan ID within two weeks of application, while some have acquired theirs within a week. The Ugandans expressed their intention to vote in the 2027 General Election.
Wafula Buke estimates that around 100,000 Ugandans could have been handed Kenyan IDs and registered as voters in Kapchorwa, Bukwa, and Bukwo in Uganda. The Interior Cabinet Secretary, Murkomen, has stated that Kenyans in Uganda have a right to get IDs and other documents. However, this process should not be done under the cover of darkness, as alleged.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has stated that it is unaware of the exercise of issuing Kenyan IDs and voter registration cards to Ugandans. The IEBC should launch investigations, independently and together with security agencies, to establish the veracity of these allegations.
If the allegations are true, it could be an attempt to subvert the will of Kenyan voters by enlisting the help of foreign citizens. The IEBC cannot afford to assume that all is well amidst these allegations. Everything must be done to bring to book those illegally issuing Kenyan IDs and voters’ cards to Ugandans and other nationals.
Allowing foreigners to meddle in Kenyan elections is a recipe for chaos. Any attempt to sabotage the will of the people at the ward, constituency, county, or national level must be confronted and defeated. The IEBC and security agencies must work together to prevent this and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
Key points
- The government must investigate allegations of a plot to rig the 2027 General Election by issuing Kenyan IDs and voter registration cards to Ugandans.
- The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) must launch investigations into the allegations.
- Allowing foreigners to meddle in Kenyan elections could lead to chaos and undermine the country's democracy.
