United Opposition Demands Recall of IEBC Officials Abroad

The United Opposition has demanded the immediate recall of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials currently abroad. 

In a statement on Wednesday, November 4, the opposition said the commission is already behind on several critical milestones meant to support an effective election operations plan.

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The opposition noted that critical IEBC officials, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Head of Procurement are out of the country. 

According to the opposition, the absence of the officials could further delay the award of the election technology tender, which is critical in preparations for the 2027 General Election.

“We have learnt that critical office holders, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Head of Procurement, are out of the country on missions that could easily have been postponed. 

“These officers are central to the award of the election technology tender. Their absence at this crucial moment raises serious questions about the Commission’s sense of urgency and its priorities,” the statement read. 

The united opposition also claimed that the election technology tender evaluation process had been put on hold to allow members of the evaluation committee to travel outside the country.

“This is deeply regrettable. It tells Kenyans that they are the only ones in a hurry, and that the Commission does not share their concern about the shrinking time left before the 2027 polls,” the opposition said. 

The opposition called on the IEBC to immediately recall all officers involved in the procurement process. 

Further it demanded the resumption of the evaluation of the election technology tender. 

“The United Alternative Government therefore calls upon the IEBC to immediately recall all officers critical to the procurement process, resume the evaluation of the election technology tender without further delay, and conduct the process in a manner that is transparent, fair and in full compliance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015,” the statement added. 

This comes a week after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua threatened to mobilize 10,000 Kenyans to storm IEBC offices. 

Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, October 28, Gachagua said he had agreed with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to pressure IEBC to provide details on voter registration in border counties.

The former DP said if the IEBC fails to meet their demands, they will mobilize Kenyans to storm the commission’s offices. 

“We want to know how many people have been registered on the border in Wajir, Mandera and other border counties. We want IEBC to give us an update; we have agreed with Sifuna and Babu that we are going to IEBC and demand these things. 

“If they don’t, we will repeat what used to happen. We will mobilize 10,000 people to go to IEBC and demand that these processes are well explained,” said Gachagua.