IEBC Rejects Gachagua’s Allegations of a Rigged 2027 Election System
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has rejected allegations by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua that its preparations for the 2027 General Election have been compromised.
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the claims were baseless and could undermine public confidence in the country’s electoral institutions. Gachagua had alleged that the procurement of election technology had been predetermined in favour of South Korean company Miru Systems Co Ltd.
He also claimed that senior IEBC officials had been compromised and accused the commission’s leadership of pushing the procurement process despite objections from other commissioners. The former deputy president further questioned recent changes in the procurement department and raised concerns that external parties could gain access to voter data through the integration of election technology.
Ethekon rejected the allegations, saying no contract had been awarded and that the tender process was still at an early stage. He said procurement documents had been published on the IEBC website and the Public Procurement Information Portal as part of efforts to ensure transparency.
The chairperson also confirmed that two major tenders had been temporarily suspended after a review request was filed with the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board. The tenders cover the Integrated Elections Management System, as well as ballot papers and other electoral materials.
Ethekon defended the technical specifications being used in the procurement process, saying they were generic and performance-based to allow all qualified suppliers to compete. He said the specifications were developed in line with Supreme Court directives, lessons from previous elections and feedback from IEBC officers working in the field.
He said it was premature to question a process that had not yet been completed and warned against statements that could undermine confidence in the electoral process. Gachagua has also alleged that politicians bought a house valued at Sh200 million for Ethekon to influence his decisions. The IEBC described the claim as unfortunate, unfair and unsubstantiated.
The commission noted that the alleged value of the property had changed from Sh80 million to Sh200 million. It challenged Gachagua to submit evidence to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, including sale agreements and payment records.
On changes involving its staff, the IEBC said recent redeployments were routine administrative measures carried out under established human resource policies.
The commission also defended the integrity of the voters’ register, saying it remains under its exclusive custody. It said safeguards including biometric registration, duplicate detection, public verification and independent audits were in place to protect the accuracy and credibility of the register.
The IEBC denied plans to suppress voters from specific regions or interfere with voter data during the migration of election systems. The dispute comes as political parties and institutions prepare for the 2027 General Election. The allegations and the commission’s response have placed greater focus on the transparency of election technology procurement, the security of voter data and the independence of the electoral body.
The IEBC said it remained committed to conducting a free, fair and transparent election and would continue to follow established procurement and administrative procedures.
