Decision 2027: Civil society groups demand urgent electoral reforms ahead of 2027 polls

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are urging Parliament to swiftly enact pending electoral reforms before the 2027 General Election to preserve the legitimacy of the polls. This call was made during a recent consultative forum in Kenya, as the country commemorates one year until the scheduled elections. The Uchaguzi platform, representing these organisations, stressed that only 52 weeks remain before Kenyans go to the polls and urged Parliament to pass amendments to electoral laws by the end of the fourth quarter.

ELOG Mule Musau, the convener of Uchaguzi, emphasized the need to close the gaps exposed by a recent court ruling that questioned the election date. The Election Observation Group (ELOG) also recommended a set of minimum reforms, including voter register auditing, transparent result transmission, and joint strategies to prevent electoral violence.

The reforms are seen as crucial to ensuring a credible election, especially given the limited time remaining before the polls. CSOs have proposed several reforms, focusing on measures taken before voting day, particularly in political party nominations. They urged Parliament to take swift action to ensure the country is prepared for a fair and credible 2027 election.