Editor's Review

"We want Kenyans' votes to decide who will become President, not the institution tallying the votes."

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has warned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson, Erastus Ethekon, that he will die if he manipulates the 2027 General Elections.

Speaking on Thursday, September 24, Natembeya stated that anyone who steals Kenyans' votes in the upcoming elections will die.

However, he clarified that the United Opposition would not kill Ethekon, but he would add to the list of IEBC Bosses who coincidentally died after bungled elections.

He listed several electoral commission Chairpersons who died after managing controversial elections in the country, including the late Justice Zaccheus Chesoni, the late Samuel Kivuitu and the late Wafula Chebukati.

"For the first time, we want Kenyans' votes to decide who will become President, not the institution tallying the votes. If they steal the votes, and I would like the IEBC Chairman to listen, if you steal Kenyans' votes, you will die.

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"We will not kill you, but you will die. Anybody who has tampered with the votes- Chesoni, Kivuitu and Chebukati - are all dead. Are they there? Is it a coincidence?" Natembeya posed.

A file photo of Governor George Natembeya.

Natembeya defended the United Opposition's push to have the national tallying centre declared unconstitutional, despite the High Court throwing out its petition.

He explained that there was no need to re-tally the votes from the constituency level. The County chief explained that the electronic transmission of results to the tallying centre and the retallying pave the way for results manipulation.

"If the polling centre closes at 5.pm, Kenyans should know the President-elect by 6p.m. because the presidential votes are usually the first to be counted. Imagine finishing the count within one hour, but the law says that the results can be announced within seven days.

"We just need the figures declared at the constituency, which we will tally. This issue of electronic transmission; other things are added to change the votes. The issue of holding the results for six days before you announce them, what are you doing to them?" He posed.

Earlier, the High Court dismissed a petition jointly filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka challenging the legality of a national tallying centre.

Justice Gregory Mutai upheld the legality of the national tallying centre, citing Section 39(1)(c) of the Elections Act and Regulation 83(2) of the Elections (General) Regulations, which provide for the aggregation and verification of presidential results at the national level.

He explained that presidential elections were subject to a unique constitutional threshold.