Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and President William Ruto’s administration of orchestrating a scheme to delay the 2027 General Election.
In a press conference, the former DP cited recent developments surrounding the upcoming Ol Kalou by-election.
The DCP Party leader questioned the electoral body’s decision to carry out a routine upgrade of its ICT systems and linked it to what he termed a major plan to manipulate future elections.
According to Gachagua, the commission’s warning that the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election could be postponed because of insecurity was a ‘test run’ for a similar move during next year’s General Election.
He further questioned the commission’s ability to conduct national elections if it was unable to guarantee a peaceful by-election in a single constituency.
“The people of Kenya are asking that 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? Are you telling Kenyans that you cannot manage one election in Kenya?” he said.
Gachagua further went on to accuse the commission of working in concert with the government to lay the groundwork for postponing the 2027 General Election.
He challenged the current IEBC leadership to resign if it was unable to discharge its constitutional mandate, arguing that Kenyans deserved an electoral body capable of conducting free, fair and credible elections under all circumstances.
Additionally, the former DP also accused state agencies of deliberately fuelling insecurity in Ol Kalou, claiming plain-clothes police officers and hired goons had been deployed from Nairobi to disrupt campaigns and intimidate opposition supporters ahead of the mini poll.
