NYERI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a stern warning to the newly nominated electoral commissioners, urging them to uphold the Constitution and resist any attempts to subvert the will of the people in the run-up to the 2027 General Election.
Speaking from his home in Wamunyoro during an interview with Obina TV on Friday, Gachagua said the legitimacy of the next election depends on the integrity of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“I want to implore those commissioners to be Kenyans, to be patriotic, and not to attempt to force anyone on the people of Kenya,” he said. “It will not work, and Kenyans will not accept it. We’ll have no country here if elections are not credible.”
His comments come ahead of the May 26 parliamentary hearings to vet President William Ruto’s nominees to the IEBC.
Erastus Edung Ethekon has been proposed as chairperson, with Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla named as commissioners.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula has already forwarded the list to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, which has invited public submissions on the suitability of the nominees.
Though Gachagua previously said he had no objections to the lineup, citing the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling that the voter’s decision at the polling station is final, his latest remarks suggest deepening concern over the transparency of the process.
“I have no problem with the IEBC,” he said earlier this week. “But the voter’s voice must be respected. That is the bottom line.”
The IEBC reconstitution has already drawn controversy, with several court petitions filed to challenge the nominations.
Critics have raised questions over the impartiality and independence of some proposed commissioners.
Beyond the IEBC, Gachagua also spoke about the growing political clout of Generation Z, describing the youth as a potentially game-changing force in 2027.
“This Gen Z group is lethal,” he said. “They are not tribal, cannot be compromised, and cannot be bribed with Sh200. I’ve confirmed they are now taking identity cards and preparing to register as voters.”
Gachagua is seeking to reassert his political influence with the recent launch of his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which he hopes will rally support in the Mount Kenya region and position him as a viable challenger to President Ruto.
