Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused the government and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of plans to postpone the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, escalating political tensions ahead of the July 16 vote.
Mr Gachagua claimed there were attempts to interfere with the election through alleged political pressure and warned that delaying the poll would damage public confidence in the electoral commission ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a statement, the former Deputy President alleged that the government had spent billions of shillings in Ol Kalou Constituency in an effort to influence voters, but said the strategy had failed.
“Mr William Ruto has spent over Ksh1 billion on bribes in Ol Kalou Constituency, and it is not working. And it will not work,” Mr Gachagua said.
He further claimed that about Ksh10 billion had been spent on development projects in the constituency without changing voters’ opinions, arguing that residents had already made up their minds.
The former Deputy President also alleged that there was a plan to create chaos ahead of the election to provide justification for postponing the vote.
“The new plan is to unleash goons this weekend to cause violence and give the IEBC the reason they so desperately need to postpone the election slated for 16th July 2026,” he claimed.
Mr Gachagua challenged the electoral commission to demonstrate its independence, arguing that its handling of the Ol Kalou contest would shape public confidence in its ability to manage the 2027 General Election.
“If the IEBC cannot handle a simple by-election, claiming electoral malpractices, how do they plan to convince Kenyans that they can oversee the General Election?” he posed.
The former Deputy President also accused the commission of failing to act against government officials whom he claimed were campaigning in violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct.
He alleged that Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries had been involved in activities amounting to voter inducement, claims that have not been independently verified.
“The IEBC Chairperson is clearly an appendage of Mr William Ruto,” Mr Gachagua claimed, while demanding that the commission allow Ol Kalou residents to elect their representative as scheduled.
The remarks come as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the by-election, which was triggered by the vacancy in the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat.
Mr Gachagua said any attempt to delay the election would violate the constitutional right of residents to representation in the National Assembly.
“The people of Ol Kalou are ready to elect their new Member of Parliament and have a constitutional right to be represented,” he said.
He further warned that postponing the poll would raise questions about the IEBC’s preparedness for the 2027 General Election, where the commission will oversee the election of the President, Parliament and county governments.
The former Deputy President called on the IEBC to conduct the election in accordance with the law and ensure that voters are protected from intimidation, violence and electoral malpractice.
The IEBC has previously maintained that it is committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections and has urged political actors to respect electoral laws and dispute resolution mechanisms.
The government and President Ruto’s allies are yet to respond to Mr Gachagua’s allegations.
