Kenya Integrated Election Management System — biometric voter verification technology used by IEBC during elections, with performance issues noted during 2026 Ol Kalou by-election.
NAIROBI, Kenya Jul 19 – The Election Observation Group has urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to investigate failures involving the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits and fingerprint authentication recorded during the July 16 Ol …
… are good,” he said before adding, “Yes, it is an affirmative.” His remarks amounted to a vote of confidence in the electoral process even as some polling stations experienced delays caused by slow biometric voter verification using the Kenya Integrated Election Management System …
… Voting continued across the constituency’s 114 polling stations under heightened security, although some polling centres experienced delays due to slow biometric verification using the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS). …
… The exercise has, however, been slowed at several polling stations by delays in biometric voter verification using the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS), resulting in long queues and complaints from voters over prolonged waiting times. …
… Speaking after touring several polling stations on Thursday, Malala urged voters to remain patient as election officials worked to address intermittent delays with the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS), saying the technical hitches would not affect the outcome o …
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 16 – Long queues formed at several polling stations in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election after slow biometric verification using the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) delayed voting, with some voters saying the process took up to 30 minu …
… All voters will be required to undergo electronic identification through the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits before casting their ballots. …
… Ethekon said all eligible voters listed in the certified Register of Voters for the affected areas will be identified using the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits. …
… Poll technology IEBC also came under pressure over its proposal to procure new election technology kits despite an ongoing audit of existing Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits. …
The Communications Authority of Kenya has assured reliable connectivity during the 2027 general election scheduled for August 10, to support the voting process and transmission of results from polling stations to tallying centres. According to the CA Director General, the country has strong 3G, 4G, and 5G networks in most areas, with improvements needed only in marginalised locations.
The Communications Authority of Kenya has assured reliable connectivity during the 2027 general election scheduled for August 10, to support the voting process and transmission of results from polling stations to tallying centres. According to the CA Director General, the country has strong 3G, 4G, and 5G networks in most areas, with improvements needed only in marginalised locations.
Election Observation Group has called on the IEBC to investigate KIEMS and fingerprint authentication failures recorded during the July 16 Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, and to document all biometric failures including cases where complementary voter identification procedures were used.
The Democracy for Citizens Party praised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's conduct of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, with DCP candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho expressing confidence in the process despite isolated technical hitches involving slow biometric voter verification. Ngotho said he had conducted his campaign well and exit poll numbers looked favorable.
Central Regional Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha denied allegations of unmarked police vehicles during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, while confirming that plainclothes DCI detectives were deployed as part of election security operations. Nkanatha said all official police vehicles have registration plates and warned that operating a vehicle without number plates is illegal.
UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga has alleged that individuals were distributing money to voters near polling stations in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, and has called on the IEBC and security agencies to investigate. He said he would formally report the allegations through legal channels.
DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has declared the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election a "funeral" for the ruling UDA party in Mt. Kenya, expressing confidence in a DCP victory. Malala urged voters to remain patient as election officials addressed technical delays with KIEMS biometric systems, saying the issues would not affect the outcome.
Long queues formed at polling stations in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election after slow biometric verification using the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) delayed voting, with some voters reporting the process took up to 30 minutes per person.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that the Ol Kalou by-election on July 16 will use electronic identification through KIEMS kits exclusively, with no manual voter register. Voters must present national identity cards or passports and undergo biometric and facial verification, with alphanumeric ID entry as a fallback if those methods fail.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission says it has finalized preparations for Thursday's by-elections in Emurua Dikirr Constituency and Porro and Endo wards, with all election materials dispatched, polling stations to open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m., and election officials trained on professionalism and integrity.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has proposed increasing its budget to Sh74.8 billion from Sh61.7 billion to fund expansion of polling stations from 46,000 to 55,000, additional voter registration centres, diaspora voting, and new election technology ahead of the 2027 General Election. MPs on the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee questioned the increase as the commission estimated the voter register will grow to 28.5 million from 22.1 million in 2022.