By The Weekly Visio Reporter
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has strongly dismissed allegations by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua of political interference, corruption and influence-peddling in the preparations for Kenya’s 2027 general election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon described the claims as “false, unsubstantiated and aimed at undermining public confidence in the electoral body.” The allegations, which followed remarks made by Mr Gachagua during a press briefing the previous day, centred on the procurement of election technology and an assertion that politicians had purchased a house for the chairperson in order to influence him. Mr Ethekon noted that the value of the alleged property had shifted in successive accounts from Sh80 million to Sh200 million. “The allegations that a house has been purchased for the Chairperson of IEBC by some politicians for purposes of influencing him are unfortunate, unfair and unsubstantiated to date,” he said.
The commission challenged Mr Gachagua to furnish concrete evidence, including the location of the property, sale and transfer documents, payment receipts and the identities of those involved, and to submit the material to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for investigation. It further rejected claims of malpractice against the chairperson and vice-chairperson, describing them as fabricated.
IEBC also defended its handling of electoral technology and ballot-paper tenders, insisting that all processes were being conducted in accordance with Chapter 12 of the Constitution and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015. The commission pointed to the successful and unchallenged Magarini by-election, among other recent polls, as evidence of its readiness to oversee the 2027 general election, scheduled for 10 August.
The exchange comes at a sensitive moment in Kenya’s political calendar. With just under a year to the polls, the opposition remains divided over the selection of a single presidential flag-bearer, while parties across the spectrum intensify early positioning and voter-registration drives. Mr Gachagua, who continues to lead the DCP despite the High Court’s earlier upholding of his impeachment as deputy president, has emerged as one of the more vocal critics of the current administration and of electoral institutions.
Observers note that public confidence in the IEBC remains a critical factor ahead of what is widely expected to be a closely contested election. The commission’s robust response underscores its determination to protect the integrity of the electoral process even as political temperatures rise.
