Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused President William Ruto of planning to rig the 2027 general election and upcoming by-elections.
In a statement on Thursday May 8, Kalonzo claimed that President Ruto was partisan in nomination of the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson and members.
The former Vice President alleged that Ruto did not do consultations on the nominations hence creating a low-trust electoral body.
“We are extremely concerned that Mr. Ruto chose to be partisan by ignoring the Principle of Consultation and Concurrence in his recommendations of the Chairman and Members of IEBC. This action has automatically created a low-trust institution.
“As we had stated in prior correspondence on the subject, it is now evident that the intention is to rig not only the next election but also the upcoming by-elections. A comprehensive statement will be released by The Opposition on Monday, May 12, 2025,” said Kalonzo.
Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new Chairperson of IEBC in an announcement by the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
This is after the president received the report of the IEBC Selection Panel on Tuesday, May 7, 2025.
He is set to replace the late Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati, who died at a Nairobi hospital in February 2025 following a long illness, aged 63.
Chebukati was appointed IEBC Chairperson by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in January 2017 with his six-year term coming to a conclusion on January 17, 2023.
He took over the top job at the electoral commission from Ahmed Issack Hassan.
Ruto has also nominated six IEBC Commissioners from various regions, among them Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu (Nyandarua) and Moses Alutalala Mukhwana (Kakamega).
Other nominees include: Mary Karen Sorobit (Uasin Gishu), Hassan Noor Hassan (Mandera), Francis Odhiambo Aduol (Kisumu), and Fahima Araphat Abdallah (Lamu).
“In accordance with our supreme law, the nominations have been transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament, in accordance with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act as well as the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Chapter 7F, Laws of Kenya),” Koskei announced.
“In recognition of the indispensable role of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as one of the cornerstone institutions of our democracy and a custodian of electoral management, His Excellency the President has urged the National Assembly to prioritise the consideration of these nominations,” he added.
