Opposition leaders on Wednesday, January 28, broke their silence following a closed-door meeting with officials from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.
The meeting brought together senior opposition figures led by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Patriotic Front boss Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, DAP-Kenya’s Eugene Wamalwa, and Jubilee Party deputy leader Fred Matiang’i.
Addressing the media after the talks, the leaders said the meeting was largely a courtesy call aimed at formally engaging the newly constituted electoral commission ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to the opposition, the visit provided an opportunity to raise concerns they believe require urgent attention, particularly following the recent by-elections and the overall credibility of the electoral body.
Kalonzo Musyoka stated that the opposition expressed dissatisfaction with both the conduct and outcomes of the recent by-elections, noting that public perception around the commission remains shaky.
“We were very candid. We are not happy with the process and the outcome of the by-elections. There is a widespread perception that this is a ‘William Ruto commission,’ and we raised this concern directly,” Kalonzo said.
He further criticised the procurement process of the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits, questioning the involvement of Smartmatic, a firm he claimed has faced credibility challenges globally.
“We were unhappy with the procurement of the KIEMS kits and the involvement of the discredited Smartmatic organisation. We want demonstrable outcomes, transparency, and accountability,” he added.
The opposition leaders revealed that they reached an agreement with the commission to establish a structured framework for addressing grievances and electoral concerns ahead of future polls.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i described the engagement as constructive, saying it marked the first time the IEBC had formally committed to an institutionalised channel of engagement with the opposition.
“We had a cordial conversation. For the first time, we agreed on a structured framework to engage. There will be another meeting to go through the issues we raised in detail,” Matiang’i said.
He added that as long as the electoral body continues to act in good faith, the opposition has no fundamental problem working with the commission.
However, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua maintained that the November by-elections — viewed as the IEBC’s first major test — were fundamentally flawed.
Gachagua warned that the upcoming February by-election would serve as a critical test of the commission’s credibility, vowing that the opposition would not hesitate to mobilise mass action should there be signs of electoral malpractice.
“Elections are very emotive. We told the commissioners that they must prepare adequately because if Kenyans feel the process is not credible, tensions will rise. For now, we are giving them the benefit of the doubt,” Gachagua stated.
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