IEBC officials face Sh2 million fine, five years in jail over ungazetted polling stations

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Mama Ida urges Kenyans to honour Raila’s legacy of peace and unity

Listen The proposed law also targets officials who fail to announce election results when required or delay the process without reasonable grounds.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials who conduct elections at polling stations that have not been officially gazetted could face a Sh2 million fine, up to five years in prison or both under proposed changes to the Election Offences Act now before the National Assembly. The Election Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2024, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and his Minority counterpart Stewart Madzayo, also seeks to punish officials who delay declaring election results or interfere with announced tallies. The Bill, which is due for consideration at the committee stage in the National Assembly this week, proposes amendments to Section 6 of the Election Offences Act to ensure that results declared by electoral officials originate from officially gazetted polling stations. More To Read Mama Ida urges Kenyans to honour Raila’s legacy of peace and unity President Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta set for delicate Raila memorial reunion in Bondo Kenya School of Government to offer AI, leadership training under Raila Odinga Academy From an alleged assassination plot to deadly protests, ex-bodyguard Maurice Ogeta recalls moments Raila escaped death Wanga dismisses claims of ODM decline after Raila’s death, vows party will retain all Busia seats Senator Omtatah challenges IEBC over reduced ballot paper security requirements ahead of 2027 general election Currently, conducting an election at a polling station that has not been gazetted is not listed as an offence under the Act. However, Regulation 7 (1) (c) of the Elections (General) Regulations of 2022 requires the IEBC to publish a Gazette notice listing polling stations established for each constituency. The notice must be publicised through electronic and print media of national circulation and other easily accessible media, indicating the distinguishing number or letter, or a combination of these, assigned to each station. Latest Stories Leopards target winning start against Bandari as Mombasa United make top-flight debut Government seeks to extend 8 per cent VAT rate to December to cushion Kenyans against high fuel prices Court blocks registration of Wiper as Ukombozi Alliance ahead of 2027 polls 2026 KCSE rehearsals begin Friday amid KNEC dispute with KUPPET over examiners’ pay The proposed law also targets officials who fail to announce election results when required or delay the process without reasonable grounds. “A member of the commission, staff or any other person having any duty to perform pursuant to any written law relating to any election who, where required to declare the result of an election, fails or unreasonably delays to declare the results of an election, commits an offence,” the proposed new section reads. The Bill further seeks to introduce Section 6(o), which would make it an election offence for a commission member or staff member who “knowingly or intentionally interferes, alters or knowingly or intentionally causes another person to interfere or alter declared results”. The proposed changes are part of the recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), whose report was adopted by Parliament in February 2024. The Senate passed the Bill on November 19, 2024, before forwarding it to the National Assembly, where it was read for the first time on December 3, 2024. It was subsequently reviewed by the House Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. Nadco was formed through a bipartisan arrangement to ease political tensions following deadly protests after Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga disputed the outcome of the August 9, 2022, presidential election. The talks, co-chaired by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, representing Azimio, and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, representing Kenya Kwanza, addressed election law reforms aimed at creating a level playing field for competing candidates. The proposed amendments also bring attention to concerns raised during the 2017 General Election, when the IEBC gazetted 40,883 polling stations. A petition that successfully challenged the outcome of the 2017 presidential election claimed that the commission had “illegally and fraudulently established ungazetted polling stations in Mandera County, which were manned by ungazetted and undesignated returning and presiding officers”. The petition challenging President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory also raised concerns about the transmission of election results, claiming that results from slightly more than 11,000 polling stations were transmitted from stations other than those officially gazetted. It further alleged that vote-count results were added to the final tally, which the petitioner argued undermined the integrity of the presidential election. The proposed law seeks to establish penalties for such election-related offences by strengthening accountability requirements for officials involved in conducting polls, declaring results and handling announced tallies. Other Topics To Read Election Offences (Amendment) Bill NADCO Election Offences Act polling stations IEBC officials Raila Odinga IEBC

Top Stories Today 2026 KCSE rehearsals begin Friday amid KNEC dispute with KUPPET over examiners’ pay Junior Stars face early exit threat ahead of must-win Somalia clash Leopards target winning start against Bandari as Mombasa United make top-flight debut Government seeks to extend 8 per cent VAT rate to December to cushion Kenyans against high fuel prices IEBC officials face Sh2 million fine, five years in jail over ungazetted polling stations Court blocks registration of Wiper as Ukombozi Alliance ahead of 2027 polls

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