Gachagua Threatens Nationwide Protests Against IEBC Over Voter Registration in Border Counties

NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has threatened to mobilise nationwide demonstrations against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) unless the electoral agency provides detailed information about voter registration in Kenya's border counties.

Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), said he could mobilise up to 10,000 people to occupy the commission's headquarters if it failed to address concerns about the registration exercise and the planned audit of the voter register.

His remarks have added to growing political pressure on the IEBC as preparations for the 2027 General Election gather momentum.

Focus on border-county registration

Gachagua has specifically questioned the number of voters registered in Wajir, Mandera and other border regions.

He wants the IEBC to explain the figures and provide information about the verification procedures used to establish the eligibility of individuals registering as voters.

The former Deputy President has also raised concerns about allegations involving the issuance of Kenyan identity cards and voter registration along the Kenya-Uganda border.

He argues that the commission should provide clear information to reassure the public that the electoral register is being compiled in accordance with the law.

The concerns touch on an important constitutional principle: voter registration must be open to eligible Kenyan citizens while protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

However, allegations of irregular registration should be supported by verifiable evidence and investigated through the appropriate legal and administrative channels.

Threat of demonstrations

During a television interview on October 29, Gachagua said he would mobilise supporters to demand answers from the commission.

He also threatened to extend the protests to constituency IEBC offices across the country if the agency failed to respond.

The DCP leader said he wanted the IEBC chairman, Erastus Edung Ethekon, and other commissioners to address the issues publicly.

Gachagua also referred to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, claiming they had agreed to demand explanations from the commission. Their positions on the proposed demonstrations were not independently established in the reporting available.

The threatened action has not, by itself, established that demonstrations will take place or that the commission has violated electoral laws.

Any protests would be subject to the constitutional and legal requirements governing peaceful assembly and public order.

Voter-register audit under scrutiny

Beyond registration figures, Gachagua questioned the IEBC's preparations for the audit of the voter register.

He wants the commission to explain whether a firm has been procured to conduct the exercise and whether the planned timetable can be met.

The audit is an important component of election preparation because it is intended to help identify errors, duplicate entries and other irregularities that could undermine confidence in the register.

According to the IEBC's Election Operations Plan for 2025–2027, the electoral process includes several stages of voter verification and compilation before the final register is certified.

The commission's published timetable includes biometric verification by members of the public at their respective registration centres in 2027.

An effective audit must also be transparent enough to allow political parties, observers and members of the public to understand how concerns are investigated and resolved.

IEBC faces growing public expectations

The commission faces the difficult responsibility of maintaining public confidence while carrying out a complex national exercise.

It must register eligible voters, maintain accurate records, protect personal information and ensure that no individual is unfairly excluded from participating in an election.

Political parties also have a responsibility to raise concerns through evidence-based engagement rather than spreading unverified allegations that could undermine confidence in democratic institutions.

The IEBC's communication will be important in addressing questions about registration figures, verification procedures and audit preparations.

What it means for 2027

The latest dispute shows that the integrity of the voter register is likely to remain a major political issue as the country approaches the next General Election.

For voters, the central concern is whether the electoral process will be transparent, credible and accessible to all eligible citizens.

The commission will be under pressure to demonstrate that its systems are working and that complaints are handled fairly.

As political mobilisation increases, the challenge for all stakeholders will be to protect the right to peaceful political participation while ensuring that disagreements over electoral administration are resolved through lawful and verifiable processes.