Gachagua Accuses IEBC of Plot to Manipulate 2027 Election Through New System

NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of planning to procure a new election management system that he claims could compromise the integrity of the 2027 General Election.

Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), alleged that officials within the electoral commission had informed him of an effort by IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon and Vice Chairperson Fahima Abdallah to award a tender for a new election management system to MIRU Systems Technology, a South Korean company.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and Gachagua did not publicly identify the officials he said had provided him with the information.

Gachagua Raises Procurement Concerns

In a statement issued Tuesday, Gachagua claimed that IEBC commissioners had attempted to compel officials from the Directorate of Supply Chain Management and the Directorate of Electoral Management to defend the commission in a case before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.

The case challenges what Gachagua described as a skewed procurement process.

“The officials have firmly refused to give false testimony to facilitate corruption and electoral fraud,” he alleged.

Gachagua further claimed that officials who resisted the alleged pressure had been targeted through transfers to distant counties, with their positions subsequently filled by individuals he described as allies of the commission's leadership.

He alleged that all affected officials, apart from one head of department, had been transferred and replaced.

The claims remain allegations and have not been established by a court or an independent investigation.

Questions Over Timing of New Election System

Gachagua also questioned the decision to introduce a new election management system less than a year before the next General Election.

He argued that procuring and implementing a new system approximately 11 months before the August 2027 election would not provide sufficient time for a smooth transition, particularly if the objective is to migrate digitally from the existing system and address its shortcomings.

The former Deputy President warned that changing the election management system so close to the election could create vulnerabilities around the voters' register.

“Again, there is real and genuine fear that the change of the election management system at this late hour is a scheme to interfere with the voters' register, mostly in areas where Mr. William Ruto has been openly rejected,” he said.

Gachagua did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation that the proposed system change is intended to manipulate the voters' register.

Calls for Tender to Be Cancelled

The DCP leader called on the IEBC to abandon the proposed procurement and instead upgrade the existing election management infrastructure.

He also warned the IEBC leadership of what he described as “dire ramifications” should the alleged manipulation of the procurement process and harassment of commission employees continue.

The allegations come as Kenya's electoral body prepares for the 2027 General Election, with questions surrounding technology, voter registration and election preparedness expected to remain central to political debate.

Kenya's Existing Election Management System

Kenya currently uses an Integrated Election Management System (IEMS), which was procured in 2022 from Smartmatic International Holding B.V., a company based in Venezuela.

The system forms part of the technology infrastructure used by the IEBC in managing electoral processes, including voter identification and transmission-related functions.

Gachagua's allegations place the proposed procurement under renewed political scrutiny, particularly given the importance of election technology in Kenya's increasingly digitised electoral process.

The IEBC has not, at the time of publication, publicly responded to Gachagua's allegations regarding the alleged tender process, staff transfers or claims of potential interference with the 2027 voters' register.

Any decision to replace or upgrade the country's election management system is likely to attract close attention from political parties, civil society groups and election observers as Kenya moves towards the 2027 polls.