We are ready for by-election, IEBC Chairman assures, dismisses rigging claims

IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon, has reaffirmed the commission’s readiness for Thursday’s by-elections, dismissing claims of a plot to rig the mini-polls in favour of certain candidates.

Speaking exclusively to the Star, he said the electoral agency has dispatched all election materials and recruited, trained and deployed election officers to manage the voting process.

“We are ready for the by-elections. We have done everything required of us under the law, and the public should be assured that the elections will be credible, free and fair,” Ethekon said.

The chairman said all election officers have taken oath of office, reaffirming their commitment to integrity, impartiality and professionalism.

“This reinforces our pledge to deliver a free, fair, and credible election. As we enter the final stages of preparation, the team is fully equipped to manage polling stations,” he said.

A total of 181 candidates will contest various seats across 24 electoral areas in Thursday’s mini-polls.

Positions up for election include the Baringo Senate seat and the Banissa, Malava, Magarini, Mbeere North, Ugunja and Kasipul MP seats, alongside multiple MCA positions.

In a show of commitment to transparency, IEBC commissioners have been deployed across the affected regions to personally oversee the polls.

“We are not leaving anything to chance. Apart from the election staff, we as commissioners have also split ourselves across the regions and you will see us on the ground,” Ethekon said.

He will personally supervise the Kasipul by-election, where campaigns have recently turned chaotic.

Last week, the commission fined leading candidates Boyd Were and Nahashon Aroko Sh1 million each over violence that led to the deaths of their supporters.

“We had to act so that no one claims we saw violence in Kasipul and did nothing. I will be in the constituency in person,” he said.

IEBC vice chairperson Fahima Abdallah will oversee Ugunja constituency in Siaya, while Commissioner Anne Nderitu will be in Laikipia.

Moses Mukhwana will monitor Malava, Hassan Noor Hassan will be in Banissa and Mary Sorobit will oversee the Baringo Senate by-election.

Ethekon rejected claims from some politicians alleging an elaborate rigging scheme, saying there is no basis for such accusations.

“There is no monkey business here. Since I joined this commission, I have not seen or heard anyone engaging in funny business,” he said.

The chairman said the commission has promptly acted on all formal complaints it has received, including those related to violence in Kasipul.

“Politicians say many things in public, but few file formal complaints with us. If they do, we follow the due process—investigate and take appropriate action,” he explained.

Ethekon also addressed a complaint filed by the Democratic Party, which demanded a voters' register for the Mbeere North by-election.

He said the commission referred the party to the August gazette notice containing the official register.

“Everything we do is guided by the law. Politicians will say what they want, but we remain anchored in legal procedures,” he said.

Ethekon urged candidates, political parties and supporters to maintain peace, respect the law and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

He also urged voters to turn out in large numbers on November 27 and exercise their democratic right through the secret ballot.