Ruto allies hit back at Gachagua over IEBC tender concerns

The Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kit. [File, Standard]

President William Ruto’s allies led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula have launched a scathing attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the Opposition over their criticism of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), citing blackmail by the Opposition.

The leaders warned that attempts by politicians to dictate how the electoral agency procures technology and other election materials could undermine public confidence in the 2027 General Election.

Speaking at Marenyo Market in Butere Constituency, Kakamega County, on Friday, Wetang’ula defended the IEBC’s independence and urged politicians to allow the commission to discharge its constitutional mandate without interference.

His remarks came amid an increasingly heated political debate over the commission’s procurement of a new Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), with Gachagua alleging that the tender had been designed to favour South Korean technology firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd.

Gachagua has alleged that the outcome of the tender had been predetermined in favour of the company and questioned specifications contained in the tender, arguing that they had been tailored to benefit the firm.

The IEBC has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the procurement process is open and transparent and that no company has been awarded the contract.

IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon said the process was still at an early stage and challenged those making the allegations to provide evidence to support their claims.

Wetang’ula said politicians should respect the commission’s constitutional independence and refrain from attempting to influence its procurement decisions.

“IEBC is an independent body under the Constitution, working under the direction of nobody and the command of nobody. They do their job as required by the Constitution,” Hon. Wetang’ula said.

The Speaker said politicians had no role in determining where the electoral agency should procure ballot papers, technology, fuel or other materials.

“Me as a politician and my colleagues, we cannot go to IEBC and tell them, ballot papers buy from this one, machines buy from the other one, petrol buy from here. That is not the work of politicians; let's sit and allow them to do their work.”

Wetang’ula invoked the 2017 presidential election dispute, when the Supreme Court annulled the initial presidential election and ordered a fresh poll, saying the institutions involved ultimately respected the judicial process.

“We must have respect. If we want IEBC to do its work properly, we must respect the referee,” he said.

Using a football analogy, the Speaker said politicians seeking elective office should not attempt to determine who officiates elections or influence the rules governing the contest.

“If you want to run for elections, you cannot choose the referee. You cannot choose the whistle to be blown. You cannot choose the field to play on or the cheerers who will come to cheer you,” he said.

Wetang’ula challenged IEBC officials to remain guided by the law, the Constitution and their conscience, saying they should not be intimidated by political actors.

“Act in accordance with the law. Act in accordance with the Constitution. Act in accordance with your conscience and the public morality expected of you. Don't be intimidated by anybody. Don't act with fear or favour,” he said.

He further cautioned politicians against attempting to influence procurement decisions at the electoral agency.

“We cannot interfere with IEBC, attempting to direct them to procure ballot papers from some individuals or their companies, KIEMS kits from this technology firm, buy petrol from this petrol station and many other items. That is not the work of politicians,” he said.

The IEMS tender, advertised in August, covers the supply, installation, testing, commissioning, support and maintenance of the electoral management system, together with related hardware and accessories.

The procurement has also attracted a challenge before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.

The dispute over the tender comes as political parties and leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with questions surrounding electoral technology likely to remain a major issue in the preparations for the polls.

But Wetang’ula also used the Butere meeting to rally Western Kenya behind the broad-based government and President Ruto’s re-election bid.

He urged supporters of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga to remain within the political arrangement that brought together ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“You voted for ODM and its leader Raila Odinga, who together with President William Ruto birthed the broad-based government. Those who were ODM, UDA, Ford Kenya and others are now a single unit called the broad-based government,” he said.

The Speaker said Western Kenya should unite and work with leaders including former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

He cited ongoing and planned infrastructure projects in the region, including the proposed extension of the railway towards Western Kenya, development of Bukhungu Stadium and upgrading of Kakamega airstrip, as some of the reasons residents should continue supporting the government.

Wetang’ula said the region had an opportunity to remain in government and play a role in determining the country’s political succession.

“As a region, the path to the top seat is now visible because we are the succession plan. We are in government, and we will not leave government and go to the Opposition to look for government,” Hon. Wetang’ula said.

He added: “We will remain in government, we will build the government, we will inherit the government and we will lead the same government in 2032.”

President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet also dismissed concerns surrounding the IEBC tender and challenged politicians to allow the commission to conduct its procurement process.

“For those looking for tenders in IEBC, we don’t want to hear complaining because you said you will defeat William Ruto. Why have you started making noise this early?” said Kibet.

Kibet accused the Opposition of anticipating defeat ahead of the 2027 polls, saying it had resorted to attacks and intimidation instead of developing an alternative agenda.

“They have no agenda and they have realised that Kenyans are clever and that is why they have resorted to blackmail and intimidation, which will not work. Let them look for votes because Ruto will be reelected for the development he has so far delivered," said Farouk.

Senate Majority Leader Aron Cheruiyot also aimed at Gachagua, telling the former Deputy President to stop commenting on IEBC and the electoral process.

“Please stop speaking about IEBC because you were impeached and anybody who is impeached cannot contest for any elective office,” Cheruiyot said.

Cheruiyot accused Gachagua of attempting to blackmail the electoral agency over fears of election rigging, alleging that the former Deputy President was pushing for the interests of a particular firm.

“I want to tell Gachagua that he will not succeed in his blackmail; we know him for his appetite for tenders, and he thinks everybody is a tenderpreneur like him. Gachagua has no good intentions of a credible election and the noise he is making is because he wants the tender to be given to a firm he has links with," said Cheruyiot.

The Kericho Senator also defended the Ruto administration against accusations of uneven development, saying the President was being criticised because of his efforts to change what he described as skewed distribution of resources.

"Ruto is being judged harshly because he decided to end skewed distribution of natural resources and development and that is why, in collaboration with Kakamega Governor, Bukhungu Stadium and Kakamega Level Six Hospital are near completion," said Cheruyiot.

Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe similarly accused Gachagua of politicising virtually every government process for political mileage and urged him to keep off the management of the electoral agency.

"Gachagua and his cronies have been celebrating marginalisation of some communities, including Western and development had been directed to one region. Thanks to Ruto's leadership, now we see development and therefore Gachagua should stop the habit of politicising and opposing everything and we are telling him to stop interfering with the management of IEBC," said Mugabe.

His sentiments were echoed by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, Butere MP Tindi Mwale and Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli, who cautioned Gachagua against what they said could erode public trust in the IEBC ahead of the 2027 General Election.

While Gachagua and other Opposition figures have raised questions about the integrity and specifications of the tender, the IEBC maintains that the procurement process is ongoing and has not resulted in the award of the contract.