Kenya: IEBC to Establish Situation Room to Monitor Election-Related Gender Violence

What the report says

Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is setting up a dedicated situation room to track and respond to election-related gender-based violence ahead of the 2027 general election, according to Capital FM’s report distributed by AllAfrica. The facility will be tied to the commission’s early warning system so incidents can be reported and acted on more quickly.

IEBC Acting CEO Ruth Kulundu said the commission is treating gender-based violence as part of broader election security planning. She also said officials are reviewing coordination structures, carrying out baseline surveys to spot early warning signs, and strengthening preparedness for threats that could affect the vote.

The report says the commission is also concerned about digitally enabled risks, including artificial intelligence and deepfakes, which it believes could damage public confidence and spread harmful or misleading content during the campaign period. To address this, the IEBC plans to work more closely with social media platforms and media regulators to identify and remove problematic material.

As additional context, election observers in many countries have increasingly warned that online disinformation and abuse can intensify political tensions, particularly for women and other vulnerable groups. The report says the IEBC has trained 47 risk champions, with county representation, to support electoral risk management.