Gachagua, in a strongly worded statement, accused IEBC Chairman Erastus Edung Ethekon and Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah of attempting to manipulate the procurement of the Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), alleging that the tender specifications were deliberately crafted to favour MIRU Systems.
“The Chairman of IEBC and his Vice Chair are determined to force the discredited MIRU Systems Technology from South Korea into the 2027 General Elections for financial gain and to bungle the elections,” Gachagua alleged.
The former Deputy President further claimed that the alleged scheme became apparent after concerns emerged that the procurement process could face public scrutiny.
According to Gachagua, IEBC commissioners subsequently attempted to make officials in the Directorate of Supply Chain Management and the Directorate of Electoral Management take responsibility for the disputed technical specifications.
“After they suspected that the scheme would face exposure and public scrutiny showing how they tailor-made the specifications and sneaked them into the tender to have a predetermined outcome, IEBC commissioners tried to force officials in the Directorate of Supply Chain Management and the Directorate of Electoral Management to own the specifications,” he claimed.
He alleged that the officials refused to support what he described as false testimony before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB).
“The officials have firmly refused to give false testimony to facilitate corruption and electoral fraud,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua alleges victimisation of IEBC officials
The DCP leader then made a further explosive allegation, claiming that IEBC officials who resisted the alleged pressure were punished through transfers.
“Consequently, the Chairman and his Vice Chair have victimized officials in the two departments and transferred all of them, except the compromised head of department, to far-flung counties and replaced them with cronies,” he alleged.
Gachagua said the information had been brought to him by what he described as “patriotic IEBC officials”.
“Patriotic IEBC officials have sought me out from my short holiday and requested me to inform Kenyans of the rot, the intimidation, and the plans to bungle the 2027 General Elections,” he said.
The allegations come amid an ongoing procurement dispute over IEBC’s planned Integrated Elections Management System.
The commission advertised tender IEBC/OIT/01/2026-2027 for the supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, support and maintenance of the IEMS, hardware, equipment and accessories. The tender was advertised in August, with the original submission deadline set for September 1, 2026.
The procurement has since attracted a legal challenge before the PPARB, with Galadirel Investment Limited questioning aspects of the tender and alleging that some of its specifications could favour MIRU Systems.
IEBC has rejected allegations that the tender was tailor-made for the South Korean company.
IEBC Chairman Ethekon said the technical specifications were “generic, performance-based” and open to qualified suppliers.
“No award has been made to any company since the Commission is not aware of those companies that would be competing in this tender,” Ethekon said in response to earlier claims by Gachagua.
‘Cancel the tender’
Despite the IEBC's position, Gachagua has called for the procurement to be cancelled altogether.
He argued that Kenya is too close to the 2027 General Election to introduce an entirely new election management system.
“It is my considered opinion, following advice from procurement experts and IEBC insiders, that it is not technically possible to procure a new election management system given that the elections are 11 months away,” he said.
Gachagua argued that there was “practically no time” to complete the digital migration from the existing system while also addressing potential shortcomings before the election.
Instead, he urged the electoral commission to retain and improve the current system.
“I call upon the IEBC to call off this tender and instead upgrade the current system to address the few shortcomings identified so far,” he said.
Gachagua raises voter register fears
The former Deputy President also linked the proposed change of the election management system to concerns about the integrity of the voters’ register.
“Again, there is real and genuine fear that the change of the election management system at this late hour is a scheme to interfere with the voters' register,” Gachagua alleged.
He claimed that such interference could disproportionately affect areas where President William Ruto's administration has faced political opposition.
Gachagua did not provide publicly available evidence in the statement to substantiate the allegation.
The dispute over the election technology tender has nevertheless become one of the latest flashpoints in preparations for the 2027 polls, with the procurement process facing scrutiny both politically and through the formal procurement review mechanism.
Appeal to IEBC leadership
Gachagua concluded his statement with a direct appeal to Ethekon and the IEBC leadership to abandon what he described as attempts to interfere with the electoral process.
“Lastly, I call upon the IEBC Chairperson and Vice Chairperson to stop the harassment and victimization of staff who have chosen professionalism and patriotism over manipulation and corruption,” he said.
He warned that disputes surrounding the electoral process could have serious consequences for the country.
“Mr. Chairman, do not throw Kenya into chaos and anarchy. Do not subvert the will of the people of Kenya. Leave Kenyans to make their decision at the ballot,” Gachagua said.
He then issued a political message ahead of the August 2027 election.
“You live in Kenya, you have access to the people, and you can hear what they are saying about sending this regime home come 10th August 2027,” he said.
“Be patriotic, Mr. Chairman!”
The PPARB process is expected to determine whether IEBC can proceed with the disputed procurement, potentially making the board’s decision a significant development in the preparations for the 2027 General Election. Recent reporting indicates that the procurement has been temporarily halted following the challenge, while IEBC has defended the legality and technical basis of the tender.
For now, Gachagua’s allegations remain contested claims, with IEBC maintaining that no company has been awarded the tender and that the procurement is being conducted through the established legal framework.
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