Opposition leaders have announced the formation of a citizen-led electoral watchdog dubbed the People’s IEBC, aimed at monitoring the official electoral commission and holding it to high standards of transparency, accountability, and constitutionalism.
In a joint statement issued by eight opposition leaders on Tuesday, the group accused President William Ruto of planning to rig the 2027 general election by influencing the appointment of a partisan electoral body.
“President William Ruto has handpicked a biased IEBC tailored to serve his 2027 re-election ambitions. This is not a commission for the people. It is a project designed to rig the next election in broad daylight, with the silent approval of his newfound ally, Hon. Raila Odinga,” the statement read.
The opposition claims the recruitment process for the new IEBC commissioners was politically compromised. According to them, the selection panel was packed with State House loyalists, ignoring key constitutional requirements like public participation, political neutrality, and meaningful consultation.
They alleged that Hassan Noor—nominated to the commission and reportedly a relative of Suna East MP Junet Mohamed—was not initially shortlisted but was added after Junet allegedly lobbied for the panel’s deadline extension.
They also questioned the shortlisting of Joy Midivo, who they say is a known UDA party official, and Charles Nyachae, a long-time ally of President Ruto, terming both cases as clear conflicts of interest. Furthermore, they raised concerns about Dr. Adams Oloo, a member of the selection panel, accusing him of doubling as a strategic communications advisor to President Ruto—calling it a breach of neutrality.
In addition, the group pointed to Erastus Edung, nominated as Chairperson of the Commission, labeling him a known Ruto loyalist with strong links to State House through Comptroller Josphat Nanok. They criticized his past performance as County Attorney in Turkana, describing his record as “riddled with failure.”
“The Constitution is clear. Article 88(2) demands that the IEBC be independent, impartial, and free from political influence. What Ruto has created is the opposite—an extension of his campaign machinery disguised as an electoral body,” the opposition leaders said.
They went further to call the new commission a product of a political alliance between President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, dismissing it as a “Ruto-Raila Commission.”
“Even if Dr. Ruto were to appoint himself as Chairman of the IEBC in a bid to secure a second term, we will mobilize Kenyans in their millions to send this rogue regime home and reclaim our country,” the statement continued.
The leaders also demanded the immediate release of the full exit report by the Selection Panel, along with all Hansard records detailing how the final six nominees were chosen.
The People’s IEBC, they said, will operate as a parallel oversight body to keep the official electoral commission in check and safeguard the democratic will of Kenyans ahead of the 2027 general election.
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