NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed concerns over President William Ruto’s recent nominations to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying Kenyans—not commissioners—will determine the outcome of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a vernacular radio interview with Egesa FM on Monday, Gachagua said he is unbothered by the President’s picks for the IEBC, even as he continues to position himself at the centre of a brewing opposition alliance.
“I have no problem with the IEBC because the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the voter’s decision at the polling station is final,” said Gachagua.
The former Deputy President, who has been courting opposition leaders ahead of the next election cycle, said his focus is on mobilising voter registration to secure what he described as a “landslide win.”
“We want to make sure that we win the 2027 presidential election with over 7.1 million votes so that it becomes impossible for anyone to manipulate the numbers,” he said.
His comments come just days after President Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the next IEBC chairperson, alongside Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla as commissioners.
The names have been forwarded to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for vetting, set for May 26 at County Hall.
The nominations have already drawn criticism from parts of the opposition.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused the President of failing to consult widely on the appointments, warning that the process could undermine trust in the electoral body.
But Gachagua, who appears to be emerging as a key player in a potential opposition super-coalition, dismissed such fears.
He said the real task ahead lies in uniting anti-Ruto forces under a single presidential ticket.
“At the right time, we shall bring in experts to help us craft a formula to determine who becomes President, Deputy President, and Prime Cabinet Secretary, so that we can form a brand-new government,” Gachagua said.
He added that unity would be the coalition’s greatest asset: “Our resolve is so strong that we will not break ranks. We cannot allow our selfish interests to override national interests. I don’t need to be President—I can take on another role if the formula favours someone else.”
