Democratic Party raises alarm over alleged IEBC data-sharing deal

The Democratic Party expressed grave concern over what it describes as credible reports that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has entered into a secret Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the President of Kenya under the guise of a data-sharing framework.

In a statement signed by Justin Bedan Muturi, the party further alleged that IEBC Acting CEO Moses Sunkuli recently held meetings with officials from the National Registration Bureau to discuss the integration of voter data systems.

The discussions are also said to have involved potential collaboration with private vendors, including Smartmatic.

The party argues that the reported developments raise serious constitutional, legal, and ethical concerns, particularly regarding the independence of the electoral commission.

“The IEBC is an independent constitutional commission. Any opaque arrangements involving the Office of the President, particularly on matters touching on voter registration data and national identity databases, threaten the integrity, credibility, and transparency of Kenya’s electoral process,” the statement read.

The Democratic Party further cautioned that the personal data of millions of Kenyans must not be treated as a political tool and should be safeguarded in strict compliance with the Constitution and Kenya’s data protection laws.

The party has demanded immediate public disclosure of any existing MoU or data-sharing framework between the IEBC and the Office of the President and immediate disengagement of the IEBC from any joint taskforce that could compromise its independence.

It also demanded full transparency regarding any integration of systems between the IEBC, the National Registration Bureau, and private vendors.

The party warned that failure to address the concerns promptly would compel the United Opposition Coalition to seek judicial intervention to safeguard the sovereignty of the Kenyan people and the integrity of future elections.

It reaffirmed its commitment to what it termed free, fair, and credible elections in Kenya.
The statement comes at a time when the credibility of the commission is at stake ahead of the 2027 polls.