The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has come under scrutiny following remarks by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar suggesting that votes linked to deceased voters could be used to support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027.
Omar made the remarks while addressing a gathering in Jomvu, Mombasa County, where he claimed UDA was prepared to employ extreme measures to secure victory in next year’s presidential election.
He was quoted saying the party could obtain the fingerprints of people who had recently died before their burial to ensure their votes were counted.
Omar further described the votes of deceased supporters as an important political tool, arguing that maintaining their registration would strengthen the party’s demands for government development projects, ministerial appointments and other positions.
The remarks drew criticism from People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, who called on the IEBC to explain what safeguards were in place to prevent the manipulation of the voter register and impersonation during the 2027 election.
Karua described the comments as serious and said they raised concerns about the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.
“A government official publicly saying their strategy will be ‘voting the dead’ is a seriously grave matter,” Karua said, questioning how such statements could be made with confidence ahead of a major election.
She accused the electoral commission of failing to take firm action against individuals associated with the current administration when they allegedly breach electoral rules.
Karua said the alleged failure was worrying given the IEBC’s constitutional responsibility under Article 81 to ensure elections are free, fair, transparent, impartial, accurate and independently administered.
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She challenged the commission to outline the measures it had put in place to prevent fraudulent votes, voter impersonation and political interference with the electoral process.
“IEBC, what systems and safeguards are you putting in place to ensure that no vote can be manufactured, no voter can be impersonated and no political actor or public official can interfere with the integrity of the 2027 election?” she asked.
Other opposition figures also criticised Omar’s remarks and demanded an explanation from the electoral commission.
Speaking after a church event in Kangema, former Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the comments risked undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
Democratic Congress Party leader Rigathi Gachagua, speaking from the United States, also called on the IEBC to respond to the remarks.
Gachagua said the commission should clarify who Omar was referring to when he spoke about deceased voters and what the UDA official intended by the comments.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna similarly called for Omar to appear before the IEBC, arguing that his remarks had the potential to erode public confidence in Kenya’s electoral system.
