Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo has called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to take a hard stance against politicians who publicly suggest they intend to rig or steal elections.
Speaking on Sunday, July 20, Ngogoyo argued that such statements should not be taken lightly, as they signal an intention to incite unrest and compromise the integrity of Kenya’s electoral process.
"The IEBC has been formed; it has a chairperson and commissioners whom we trust to carry out the task of overseeing the election. But we are asking that if you hear someone, especially a Member of Parliament, saying they will steal votes, or saying they will rig the election, that person clearly has the intention of disrupting peace.
"We are calling on the IEBC, any individuals who want to disrupt peace, including Members of Parliament or agents of the presidency, should not be allowed to participate in an election where they themselves have confessed they will engage in vote stealing," he said.
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Ngogoyo's comments come a week after Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Abdi Jehow caused an uproar after vowing to steal votes for President William Ruto in 2027.
Speaking in Eldas, Wajir County, on Saturday, July 12, Jehow declared that leaders from North Eastern Kenya would support Ruto, even if it meant stealing votes for him.
''Ours is very brief; all that we can say is that Ruto has to get two terms. Is there any other position? We are just waiting for the ballot to come. Even if it will be empty, we will rig for him, and that is not a secret," she stated.
ODM Secretary‑General Edwin Sifuna is among leaders who condemned Jehow’s remarks, characterizing them as a confession of intent to commit electoral malpractice.
He called on the IEBC to summon her for questioning and warned that tampering with results is unlawful
“We now have a newly composed IEBC, and as a lawyer, I know the law does not permit anyone to try to undermine the outcomes of the next election.
"Ethekon and his team should summon the MPs who are announcing plans to rig elections to go before them and explain how and what they intend to achieve," he said.
From Ruto's camp, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi denounced the statements, calling them 'cheap politics' and urging politicians to speak in favor of winning and not stealing them.
"This nonsense must stop. If someone says, ‘even if it means stealing votes, we’ll do it,’ remove that person from the platform. They are giving Ruto a bad name.
"If you are in Kenya Kwanza and you believe in Ruto, don’t talk about stealing votes. Talk about winning votes. This is the message we should be sending to our people," he said.
