NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to cancel its Sh6.5 billion election technology tender, warning that introducing a new election management system less than a year before the 2027 General Election could put the integrity of the polls at risk.
Gachagua said the commission should instead upgrade the existing election technology system and address the shortcomings identified with the current infrastructure.
He argued that there was insufficient time to procure, deploy and adequately test an entirely new system before Kenyans head to the polls.
“I call upon the IEBC to call off the election technology tender and instead upgrade the current system to address the few shortcomings identified so far,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua questions timing of new election system
The former Deputy President said his position was informed by advice from procurement experts and individuals within the electoral agency who, he claimed, had raised concerns about the feasibility of introducing a new election management system with approximately 11 months remaining before the election.
“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 the remaining period would be inadequate to complete procurement, migrate data and processes from the existing system and identify and resolve problems that could emerge during implementation.
“There is practically no time to facilitate digital migration from the current system and address whatever inadequacies are anticipated,” he said.
His argument is centred on the risks associated with introducing a major technological system shortly before a national election, particularly where the system would need to undergo testing and integration with other electoral processes.
Disputed Integrated Elections Management System tender
Gachagua’s remarks come amid controversy surrounding the procurement of an Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS) by the IEBC.
The proposed system has attracted scrutiny from political actors and other stakeholders as the commission prepares for the 2027 elections.
Gachagua claimed that the procurement process had been designed to favour a foreign technology provider, which he described as “discredited”.
He further alleged that technical specifications for the tender had been tailor-made to produce a predetermined outcome in favour of the company.
“The IEBC is determined to force the discredited firm into the 2027 General Elections for financial gain and to bungle the elections,” he alleged.
The allegations have not been independently substantiated.
Claims of pressure on IEBC officials
Gachagua also alleged that officials working in the Directorate of Supply Chain Management and the Directorate of Electoral Management had been pressured to take responsibility for technical specifications used in the contested procurement.
According to the former Deputy President, the officials refused to provide what he described as false testimony in defence of the procurement process.
“The officials have firmly refused to give false testimony to facilitate corruption and electoral fraud,” he said.
Gachagua claimed that the officials subsequently approached him and asked him to raise their concerns publicly.
The allegations raise questions about the internal management of the procurement process, although no independent evidence establishing that officials were pressured to provide false testimony has been presented.
Procurement dispute before review board
The controversy has also entered the legal and administrative procurement process.
The election technology tender is facing a challenge before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB).
Gachagua expressed confidence that the procurement review body would intervene and cancel the tender.
“It is my belief that the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board will also show patriotism to the country and cancel this tender in its ruling later today,” he said.
The outcome of the procurement review is expected to provide further clarity on whether the tender complies with Kenya’s procurement laws and whether the IEBC can proceed with the proposed system.
IEBC rejects allegations
The commission has also disputed claims that its leadership tailor-made technical specifications to favour a particular bidder.
The IEBC’s position is that the procurement process should be assessed through the established legal and regulatory framework rather than political allegations.
The dispute therefore remains centred on two competing arguments: Gachagua’s warning that replacing the existing election technology at this stage creates unnecessary risks, and the IEBC’s defence of its procurement process.
