Gachagua Accuses IEBC of Plotting to Delay 2027 General Election

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of working with President William Ruto’s administration to delay the 2027 General Election. 

He made the claims during a press briefing in Nairobi after the commission warned that the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election scheduled for 16 July could be postponed because of insecurity. Speaking at the briefing, Gachagua questioned the timing of the IEBC’s decision to temporarily shut down its ICT systems for routine upgrades. 

He argued that the move formed part of a wider plan to interfere with the electoral process and described the Ol Kalou by-election as a test of possible disruptions ahead of next year’s General Election. He questioned whether the commission could be trusted to manage a nationwide election if it was unable to conduct voting in a single constituency because of security concerns. 

"If the IEBC is afraid of conducting elections in one constituency because of violence, what happens next year when there is violence? Will they postpone the elections?" he asked. 

He also said the commission’s leadership should resign if it could not carry out its constitutional responsibilities. Gachagua further alleged that state agencies were contributing to unrest in Ol Kalou. He claimed that plain-clothes police officers and hired groups had been deployed to intimidate opposition supporters and disrupt campaign activities.

His remarks followed a warning by IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon that rising violence, voter bribery and breaches of the Electoral Code of Conduct could force the commission to postpone or cancel the by-election. 

"If we find that the environment is not conducive enough for us to conclude the by-election in Ol Kalou, we will be left with no choice other than to take the unfortunate and drastic step of postponing the election," Ethekon said.

The IEBC has defended the ICT maintenance exercise, saying the upgrades are intended to improve the reliability and security of its digital services. However, the timing has prompted questions because the work coincides with preparations for the by-election and the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

Gachagua said the overlap showed a deliberate attempt to undermine the electoral process. He also criticised the commission for warning about voter bribery and violence instead of taking action against those responsible. "You are the one who is supposed to take action against these people. Then you are shouting, ‘Oh, this election I can cancel. There is too much voter bribery. Oh, there could be violence,’" he said.

The Ol Kalou parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of MP David Kiaraho. The by-election is expected to be an important test for the reconstituted IEBC as it prepares for the 2027 General Election.