Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned the electoral commission against introducing a new election management system ahead of the 2027 General Election, alleging the change could be used to interfere with the voters’ register.
Gachagua accused IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon and Vice Chairperson Fahima Abdallah of pushing South Korean firm Miru Systems into the 2027 elections, claiming the procurement process had been tailored to favour the company.
“The Chairman of IEBC and his Vice Chair are determined to force the discredited MIRU Systems Technology from South Korea into the 2027 General Elections for financial gain and to bungle the elections,” Gachagua said in a statement.
He alleged that IEBC officials had tailored the tender specifications to produce a predetermined outcome and later attempted to have officials from the Directorate of Supply Chain Management and Directorate of Electoral Management defend the specifications before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.
“The officials have firmly refused to give false testimony to facilitate corruption and electoral fraud,” he claimed.
Gachagua further alleged that the officials were punished for refusing to support the procurement.
“Consequently, the Chairman and his Vice Chair have victimized officials in the two departments and transferred all of them, except the compromised head of department, to far-flung counties and replaced them with cronies,” he said.
He said the allegations had been brought to his attention by what he described as patriotic IEBC officials who were concerned about the procurement process and preparations for the 2027 election.
Gachagua also questioned whether there was enough time to replace the existing election management system, with about 11 months remaining before the polls.
“It is my considered opinion, following advice from procurement experts and IEBC insiders, that it is not technically possible to procure a new election management system given that the elections are 11 months away,” he said.
He added that there was “practically no time to facilitate digital migration from the current system and address whatever inadequacies are anticipated.”
Gachagua then raised concerns over the potential impact of the new system on the voters’ register.
“Again, there is real and genuine fear that the change of the election management system at this late hour is a scheme to interfere with the voters' register, mostly in areas where Mr. William Ruto has been openly rejected,” he alleged.
He called on the IEBC to abandon the tender and improve the existing system instead.
“I call upon the IEBC to call off this tender and instead upgrade the current system to address the few shortcomings identified so far,” Gachagua said.
He also accused the commission’s leadership of harassing officials who had raised concerns about the procurement.
“Lastly, I call upon the IEBC Chairperson and Vice Chairperson to stop the harassment and victimization of staff who have chosen professionalism and patriotism over manipulation and corruption,” he said.
Gachagua's remarks come as the Miru Systems procurement faces a challenge before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.
He said he expected the board to cancel the tender, urging the commission to avoid what he described as actions that could undermine the credibility of the 2027 election.
“Mr. Chairman, do not throw Kenya into chaos and anarchy. Do not subvert the will of the people of Kenya. Leave Kenyans to make their decision at the ballot,” Gachagua said.
