The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned that the upcoming Ol Kalou by-election could be postponed or even cancelled if the prevailing security and electoral environment fails to improve ahead of polling day.
Speaking during the launch of the 2022 pre-election dispute resolution committee report, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission was closely monitoring reports of alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct, which could affect the credibility of the vote.
Ethekon pointed to escalating violence, alleged voter bribery and night campaigns, all of which contravene IEBC regulations and could compromise the integrity of the election.
"If we find that the environment is not conducive enough for us to conclude the by-election in Ol Kalou, we will be left with no choice other than to take the unfortunate and drastic step of postponing the election. If that is not enough, we will cancel it altogether," Ethekon said.
He disclosed that the commission had received reports of voter bribery, gun-related violence and illegal night campaigns, prompting concerns about whether the election could be conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
The IEBC chair also warned that candidates found responsible for breaching the electoral code of conduct risk being disqualified from the race.
"If we find any culpability or any breaches of the code of conduct, the proper remedies shall apply, including disqualifying some of those candidates, if not all of them, who are involved," he added.
According to Ethekon, the commission will consult security agencies and other stakeholders before determining whether conditions on the ground are suitable for the by-election.
He nevertheless stressed that calling off the election entirely remains a possibility if the situation deteriorates.
The warning comes as campaigns intensify in Ol Kalou, where opposition and government-backed candidates have stepped up efforts to court voters.
The constituency has recently witnessed a public exchange between former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over reports of violence and gunshots near a hotel during an event linked to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 1, Gachagua accused security officers and alleged state-backed groups of attacking his supporters, claiming that several campaigners had been assaulted and arrested.
He further alleged that Murkomen had deployed what he described as a "Nairobi Sierra killer squad" to interfere with his party's campaign activities.
Murkomen, however, rejected the allegations, accusing the former deputy president of attempting to inflame tensions and cautioning against incitement during the campaign period.
The July 16 by-election has attracted several candidates, although the main contest is widely viewed as being between DCP's Kamau Ngotho and the ruling UDA's Samuel Nyaga.
In recent weeks, senior government officials have also pitched camp in the constituency, unveiling development projects such as road works and subsidised cooking gas distribution, moves that critics have interpreted as efforts to boost support for the UDA candidate.
