The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has challenged Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua to submit concrete evidence to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) regarding his allegations of graft and political interference within the electoral body.
IEBC Chairman Edung Ethekon firmly dismissed assertions that politicians have compromised the commission’s leadership, specifically rejecting claims that a residential property was purchased for the poll body to influence official decision-making.
Highlighting the inconsistency of these assertions, Ethekon pointed out that the reported value of the property fluctuated wildly from 80 million to 200 million Kenyan Shillings without any substantiation.
To facilitate a genuine investigation, the commission instructed Gachagua to produce transaction records, title transfer documents, sale agreements, payment receipts, and the identities of all involved parties.
Beyond the property claims, the chairperson refuted allegations of pre-determined tender awards and political meddling in procuring election technology and ballot materials. He clarified that the procurement process for the Integrated Election Management System (IEMS) and voting materials remains in its preliminary stages, with no contracts awarded to any entity.
In fact, both procurement procedures are temporarily suspended pending review applications before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board. The commission reaffirmed that technical specifications were published transparently on public portals on August 11, 2026, and fully comply with Article 227 of the Constitution and relevant procurement laws.
Addressing broader operational concerns, Ethekon dismissed misconduct allegations against commission members as baseless, defending the legality and judicial validation of their appointment process.
He also reassured the public regarding voter registration data, confirming that the voter register remains securely under exclusive IEBC custody as it undergoes biometric deduplication, verification, and independent auditing ahead of the scheduled August 10, 2027 General Election.
Warning that unverified accusations risk eroding public trust in democratic institutions, the IEBC urged political leaders and stakeholders to utilize established legal mechanisms rather than resorting to unsubstantiated public claims.
