Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has dismissed allegations of vote manipulation ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying Coast residents will rely on the ballot to determine the region’s political influence.
Joho was responding to claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua concerning the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) procurement of a new Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS).
“We do not have a plan to steal votes, but we have a plan to vote. This time, we will vote in a way that has never been seen before,” Joho said.
Joho responds to Gachagua’s election claims
The former Deputy President has also questioned the roles of Joho and IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Abdallah in relation to the procurement process.
Gachagua initially claimed that Joho and Fahima were connected to a proposed election system that could potentially be used to manipulate the 2027 election.
He later intensified his allegations, claiming that the IEMS tender had effectively been predetermined in favour of Miru Systems.
Gachagua has challenged the IEBC to explain how the technical specifications were developed and whether they were designed around the capabilities of a particular company.
However, he has not publicly provided documentary evidence establishing that the tender had already been awarded to Miru Systems.
IEBC rejects claims of favouritism
The IEBC has rejected allegations that its procurement process was designed to favour Miru Systems.
The electoral commission described the claims as speculative and said no specific tender requirement had been identified that would give the South Korean company an unfair advantage.
The commission has also maintained that the procurement is subject to the applicable legal and regulatory framework as it prepares for the 2027 elections.
The tender has nevertheless attracted political scrutiny and a formal procurement challenge, placing the commission’s preparations under increased attention.
Joho defends IEBC vice-chairperson
Joho’s response focused particularly on Gachagua’s references to Fahima Abdallah.
The Cabinet Secretary questioned why the IEBC vice-chairperson had become a specific target of criticism.
“Why, among all the commissioners, are you targeting this vulnerable person? Is it because she comes from the coast?” Joho asked.
He described Fahima as a young woman from Lamu who had risen to a senior position at the electoral commission and argued that her background should not be used as a basis for questioning her role.
Joho also objected to Gachagua repeatedly mentioning his name in connection with the election technology allegations.
The Cabinet Secretary maintained that political competition should ultimately be settled through voting rather than attempts to manipulate the electoral process.
Coast prepares for 2027 election
Joho said the Coast region intends to use its votes to influence the outcome of the 2027 election.
“The coast of today is not the coast of yesterday,” he said.
His remarks signal the growing political importance of the Coast as parties and political formations begin positioning themselves ahead of the August 2027 polls.
The region has traditionally been an important battleground in presidential elections, making its voting patterns a significant consideration for competing political alliances.
