Duale fires warning shot at IEBC over 2027 election preparations

Health CS Aden Duale has warned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying the stability, security and democratic future of Kenya will largely depend on how the agency conducts preparations for the 2027 General Election.

Speaking at a Garissa hotel during a weeding ceremony, Duale said the IEBC chairperson and commissioners carry an enormous constitutional responsibility and must ensure that the law, transparency, fairness and accountability guide every decision made in the run-up to the elections.

Addressing the commission’s leadership, Duale said the consequences of mishandling an election in Kenya could be devastating, given the country’s history of disputed electoral contests and the violence that followed the 2007 presidential election.

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“I want to ask the current IEBC chairman and his commissioners: the stability and security of this country are in your hands. The democratic values of our country are in your hands. This is about how you prepare for the next general election,” Duale said.

He cautioned the commissioners against taking their mandate lightly, urging them to appreciate the weight of the office they occupy and to ensure that all electoral and procurement decisions comply strictly with the law.

“Please, do not play around with the democratic values and stability of our country. The responsibility of ensuring a credible presidential election cannot be shifted to other institutions,”he said.

“The IEBC chairperson is the chief returning officer of the presidential election. It is not a function of the Chief Justice. It is not a function of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It is not a function of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. It is not even a function of the Inspector General of Police,” he said.

Duale, who has been active in Kenyan politics for decades, drew from his personal experience of several election cycles to underscore the seriousness of the commission’s mandate.

He recalled the events surrounding the disputed 2007 presidential election, when the announcement of Mwai Kibaki as the winner amid allegations of electoral irregularities triggered a political crisis and widespread violence.

Duale said he was at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) with President William Ruto when the lights were switched off as the electoral dispute reached its climax.

“I was around when Samuel Kivuitu was the chairman of the IEBC. He presided over the events that led to the swearing-in of the late President Mwai Kibaki at night,” he said.

“I was at KICC with President William Ruto when they switched off the lights. Martha Karua took Kivuitu and the commissioners to State House. That night, Kibaki was sworn in. When the lights came back on, there was a president—and you know what happened. There was post-election violence.”

The 2007-08 post-election violence remains one of the darkest episodes in Kenya's political history. More than 1,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced following the disputed presidential election, prompting international mediation and the formation of a coalition government.

Duale's reference to the episode served as a reminder of the potential consequences of an electoral process that loses public confidence.

Duale's warning comes as the IEBC faces heightened political scrutiny over its preparations for the 2027 General Election, particularly the procurement of election technology.

The commission has recently been drawn into a heated political debate, with former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua repeatedly questioning the credibility of its preparations, the independence of its leadership and the integrity of its procurement processes.

A major point of contention has been the planned procurement of the Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), a critical component of the technology expected to support the management of the 2027 elections.

Gachagua has alleged that the procurement process was being tailored to favour South Korean technology firm Miru Systems and has questioned the suitability of the technology being considered. He has also expressed support for Smartmatic, which previously supplied electoral technology services to Kenya.

The former Deputy President has further raised allegations of political interference and corruption within the electoral agency, including claims touching on senior officials.

IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon has rejected the allegations, describing them as false and unsubstantiated while insisting that the commission remains independent and focused on delivering a credible 2027 election.

In a detailed response issued on August 27, Ethekon said no company had been awarded the IEMS tender, contradicting claims that the procurement had already been predetermined.

The commission said the tender process had been temporarily halted following requests for review lodged before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.

According to IEBC, the tender documents were published on August 11, with technical specifications designed to be generic and performance-based and therefore open to all qualified suppliers.

The commission has maintained that the procurement process is being undertaken in accordance with the Constitution and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.

Ethekon has also challenged Gachagua to provide evidence for claims that politicians purchased a house for him in an attempt to influence his decisions. The chairman said the alleged value of the property had changed from Sh80 million in earlier claims to Sh200 million.

He urged anyone with evidence relating to the alleged property transaction to submit it to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation.

The commission has maintained that it welcomes scrutiny and constructive criticism but cautioned against unsubstantiated allegations that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.