Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has renewed calls for the release of a controversial audit report on Kenya’s electoral system, warning that recent statements by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should not be taken lightly.
In a strongly worded statement, Mutula linked current concerns around the electoral body to the findings of a 2016 parliamentary process that culminated in a far-reaching audit of the voters’ register.
The process was spearheaded by a special select committee co-chaired by Kiraitu Murungi and James Orengo, following intense political pressure for electoral reforms.
The committee’s recommendations led to the engagement of KPMG, which conducted an independent audit of the register of voters — a key pillar of Kenya’s electoral credibility.
The audit was anchored in amendments to election laws that required verification of voter data, including biometric records and cross-checking with national identity, birth and death registries.
However, Mutula now claims that despite the report being submitted to Parliament, its contents were effectively concealed from public scrutiny.
“KPMG submitted a report to Parliament and it became top secret for reasons I could not comprehend as a Member of the committee,” he stated.
The governor argues that withholding such a crucial document undermines transparency and accountability in electoral governance, insisting the report should be made public to allow Kenyans to understand the true state of the voter register and reforms undertaken.
Mutula further called for a fresh audit — this time focusing on the electronic management systems used in elections — noting that the law passed alongside the 2016 reforms explicitly required continuous scrutiny of both the voter register and the technology underpinning elections.
The renewed push comes amid heightened political attention on the IEBC, with recent remarks from the commission triggering fresh debate on electoral preparedness and credibility ahead of future polls.
