The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has rejected allegations by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua over the procurement of technology for the 2027 General Election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, the electoral commission accused the former Deputy President of spreading misinformation about the commission and its officials.
IEBC maintained that its procurement procedures had been undertaken in line with the Constitution, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and other relevant regulations.
The commission confirmed that the procurement of the Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), hardware, accessories, ballot papers and other election materials had been temporarily suspended after a request for review was lodged before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.
Despite the pause, IEBC said the technology procurement process remained transparent and open to competition. It noted that the tender documents were published on both its official website and the Public Procurement Information Portal on August 11, 2026.
The commission further clarified that the tender was still at an early stage and that no company had been awarded the contract.
IEBC said the technical specifications for the technology were generic and performance-based, meaning any supplier that met the requirements could participate in the tender.
According to the commission, the specifications were developed after considering directives from the Supreme Court, lessons learnt from previous elections and feedback from officers working in the field.
IEBC assured the public and potential bidders that the tender would be evaluated on merit and in accordance with Article 227 of the Constitution and existing procurement laws.
It also cautioned bidders against making political statements or associating themselves with politicians in an effort to influence the procurement process.
The commission maintained that political pressure, intimidation, threats or what it described as malicious propaganda would not influence how it carries out its constitutional mandate.
Gachagua had on Wednesday, August 26, alleged that preparations for the 2027 election could facilitate electoral manipulation. He claimed that South Korean technology company Miru Systems Co. Ltd was being favoured in what he described as a predetermined procurement process.
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He accused IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon and Vice Chairperson Fahima Abdallah of overseeing a tender that had allegedly been designed to award Miru the IEMS contract.
Gachagua further alleged that IEBC’s procurement manager had been removed and replaced, claiming that Ethekon and Abdallah had received advance commissions to influence the tender’s outcome.
He also alleged that Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omolo and Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang had held discussions with Miru officials over access to Kenya’s voter registration database for integration into the proposed system.
Gachagua questioned Miru Systems’ track record, citing its involvement in electoral processes in other countries.
He referred to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 2023 elections, where he claimed observers reported equipment failures at as many as 45 per cent of polling stations, potentially affecting about 17 million voters.
He also referenced sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department following the DRC’s disputed 2018 and 2023 elections, as well as concerns surrounding Miru’s technology during the Philippines’ 2024 mock elections.
