Speaking on Monday during an IEBC Stakeholder Forum held in Nairobi, Ethekon said elections should be viewed as a shared national responsibility rather than the work of the electoral body alone.
He noted that political parties, security agencies, the media, observers, and citizens all play a critical role in ensuring credible polls.
According to the IEBC chair, the commission worked closely with security agencies to safeguard the by-elections.
However, he revealed that some of the disruptions reported in polling centres were not accidental. Instead, they were well-coordinated attempts meant to intimidate voters and election officials.
“We must be honest with ourselves. Some of the chaos we saw was planned,” Ethekon said, adding that such actions threaten the democratic process.
One major concern highlighted during the forum was the emergence of what Ethekon described as “super-agents.”
These individuals allegedly operated beyond the powers of officially accredited party agents, attempting to interfere with voting and tallying procedures.
He warned political parties against allowing unauthorized individuals to undermine polling station operations.
The IEBC boss also addressed disputes witnessed in Mbeere North, where calls were made for the disqualification of certain candidates.
He clarified that the commission cannot remove candidates based on public pressure or political emotions.
“The IEBC can only act within the law. Decisions are not made through intimidation or noise,” he stated.
On enforcement of the Electoral Code of Conduct, Ethekon cited the violent incident reported in Kasipul constituency, where supporters of two rival aspirants clashed physically.
He confirmed that both leading candidates were fined Ksh1 million each after being found guilty of violating the code.
“The punishment was uniform because both sides were responsible,” he explained, emphasizing that IEBC applies the law equally, regardless of political affiliation.
Ethekon also praised the role played by the media during the by-elections, noting that journalists helped enhance transparency and public trust.
However, he urged media houses to strengthen coordination during sensitive stages such as vote tallying to avoid spreading unverified information.
“Misinformation during tallying can easily ignite tension,” he warned.
Responding to accusations of bias, the IEBC chair firmly defended the commission’s neutrality. He said all decisions made during the by-elections were documented and remain open for public scrutiny.
“There was no preferential treatment for any candidate. Every action was guided by the law,” Ethekon said.
He further encouraged Kenyans to report cases of misconduct early instead of waiting until polling day, when tensions are usually high and disputes can quickly turn violent.
On funding, Ethekon commended the government for releasing money to support the by-elections. However, he raised concerns over delayed disbursements, warning that late funding affects planning and exposes the commission to unnecessary risks.
“Timely funding is critical for logistics and security,” he noted.
In a surprising revelation, Ethekon said IEBC was open to reform proposals aimed at improving election management, including suggestions to abolish the national tallying centre. He said such discussions would be evaluated through stakeholder engagement.
As the country looks ahead to the 2027 General Election, Ethekon urged political players, security agencies, and voters to embrace accountability and restraint.
He noted that while progress has been made, serious gaps must be addressed to prevent repeat challenges in future polls.
“The lessons from these by-elections will help us improve,” he concluded.
