IEBC plans to ban phones at polling stations in the 2027 election

A claim circulating recently suggests that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) intends to ban phones at polling stations during the 2027 General Election. This assertion, however, is misleading and unsupported by official statements or verifiable plans from the electoral body. While one specific article directly states "IEBC plans phone ban at polling stations in 2027 election," it stands as an outlier among other reports that focus primarily on the IEBC's significant budgetary challenges and the parliamentary scrutiny surrounding its funding requests for the upcoming elections. There has been no comprehensive announcement or policy directive from the IEBC confirming such a ban, nor is there any indication from the Deputy CEO or Vice Chairperson, who have been quoted extensively on other matters, that this is a current strategic objective or proposed regulation. The majority of recent reporting concerning the IEBC's preparations for the 2027 elections centers on its financial requirements and the contentious budget proposals. For instance, multiple articles highlight the IEBC's revised Sh78.4 billion budget and the concerns raised by lawmakers over rising costs, particularly the planned purchase of 60,000 new KIEMS kits. Deputy Chief Executive Officer Obadiah Keittany informed the Parliamentary Justice and Legal Affairs Committee