![President William Ruto. PHOTO[COURTESY]](https://womankenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OIP.jpeg)
President William Ruto. PHOTO[COURTESY]
The provision of a car as a polling station is contained in the Elections (Amendment) Bill, which deals with electoral processes and is currently in the public participation stage.
This post on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Act includes a clause permitting the electoral agency to use vehicles as polling stations is FALSE.
This post, which is partly in Swahili, reads in part: “In 2027 elections will be done in carsPolling stations will be on cars ffs.”
The post misleadingly suggests that this provision is part of the recently signed IEBC Act.
The information was also shared on Tiktok where the user claims that, “in the amended IEBC clause, IEBC is allowed to use cars, boats, or even a ferry as polling stations, and this across the country.”
Subsequently, Kenyans online raised concerns about the alleged clause and questioned the credibility and transparency of elections if the commission were to to use vehicles as polling stations.
This debate arose as President William Ruto signed the IEBC (Amendment) Bill 2024 into law on July 9, 2024, with many claiming the alleged clause was included in the bill.
However, a review by Woman Kenya Network (WOKN) found that no such clause is in the IEBC Act which is about reconstitution of the electoral body.
The confusion stemmed from the Elections (Amendment) Bill, which deals with electoral processes and is currently in the public participation stage. The bill seeks to identify a ‘polling station’ as ‘any room, place, vehicle or vessel set apart and equipped for the casting of votes.’
Kenyan news outlet Citizen TV also clarified this misunderstanding through their social media platforms, explaining the differences between the IEBC (Amendment) Bill and the Elections (Amendment) Bill. They emphasised that the clause about vehicles being used as polling stations is not yet law but part of a proposed amendment that is still under review.
WOKN investigated the claim about cars being used as polling stations and found it to be FALSE. The clause is contained in the Elections amendment Bill 2024 and not the assented IEBC Amendment Bill 2024.
This fact-check was produced by WOKN, under the African Fact-Checking Incubator programme, with support from PesaCheck, Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, and the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).
The fact-check was written by WOKN fact-checker Bennedete Wanyaga and edited by network’s project lead Shadrack Agamira.
WOKN is a distinguished digital media company committed to advancing gender equality and promoting the equitable participation of women and girls in society.
Launched in 2018, WOKN has grown into a fully-fledged digital media platform with a vibrant social media presence on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
Our platforms have become a trusted and reliable source of information on gender-sensitive content covering diverse thematic areas including Politics, Climate, Peace and Security, Gender Justice, Health, Economic Empowerment, and SRHR as guided by SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. We use the media to advocate for gender equality, promote just portrayal, and amplify women’s voices in society.
