The minister of justice and constitutional affairs, Nobert Mao, has confirmed the mandatory use of biometric technology in the 2026 general elections to fight ballot stuffing.

This was while ministry officials appeared before the legal and parliamentary affairs committee to present their ministerial policy statement for the FY25/26 budget.

Today, the justice and constitutional affairs ministry officials led by Minister Nobert Mao presented the ministerial policy statement for the FY25/26 budget, standing at 201.7 billion shillings, before the legal and parliamentary affairs committee.

With the general elections drawing closer and as the use of the UBOS biometric kits remains rejected by the electoral commission for use in the 2026 polls due to being faulty, members of the committee queried the ministry on the use of the biometric system of voter identification and verification in light of seeking fairness and accuracy in the elections.

In response, Mao confirmed to the MPs that the use of biometric technology will be mandatory in the elections to deal with the issue of ballot stuffing.

Mao also said that they plan to have two biometric machines at every polling station following the cabinet’s assurance to have funds availed to cater for the purchase of the machines.

While giving an update on the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling that demanded, among other things, the transfer of cases from court martial to civilian courts, Minister Mao noted that the process of transferring the files has been finalized.

Currently, the justice and constitutional affairs ministry is still waiting for guidance from the cabinet in regards to setting up the constitutional review commission, which was called for by parliament in 2022 to avoid piecemeal amendments to the 1995 constitution.