The United Opposition has questioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) preparedness for the 2027 General Election, accusing the electoral body of undermining the process through its own failures.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi criticised the Commission for attributing potential delays in election preparations to ongoing court cases instead of addressing its internal shortcomings.
"The United Alternative Government has noted, with deep concern, the recent headline in which the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) warns that court cases over election technology could disrupt preparations for the 2027 General Election. We do not dispute that litigation can slow down any procurement process," Muturi stated.
The former Attorney General acknowledged that legal disputes could affect procurement timelines but maintained that the Commission should also take responsibility for its role in the delays rather than shifting blame to the Judiciary.
"While it is true that court cases present a challenge, it is equally true that the Commission itself is doing little to help Kenyans. Blaming the courts cannot hide the fact that the Commission's own conduct is putting the delivery of a credible election at risk," he added.
On Tuesday, the IEBC warned that ongoing court battles surrounding the acquisition and use of electoral technology could interfere with preparations for the August 2027 General Election.
The Commission said uncertainty arising from the legal disputes was threatening critical activities, particularly the procurement and deployment of technology systems required to manage the elections.
It consequently called for the cases to be resolved within a reasonable timeframe to allow it to resume preparations according to its original schedule.
The IEBC further disclosed that the tender for the election technology had been suspended following the growing number of court cases.
Meanwhile, the opposition has raised fresh questions over the foreign travel of senior Commission officials, including its Chief Executive Officer and Head of Procurement, at a time when key preparations remain pending.
Muturi questioned the decision by the officials to travel abroad when their presence was allegedly required to oversee critical procurement processes.
"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 former Attorney General said.
The coalition has urged the IEBC to recall the officials immediately and accelerate the procurement process, warning that delays could compromise preparations with only 279 days remaining before the General Election.
It also called for the tender evaluation to resume without further delays, insisting that the process must adhere to procurement laws and principles of accountability.
"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.
