By Kelly Were
A coalition of opposition leaders under the banner of the People’s United Opposition has accused President William Ruto of manipulating the selection process of the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) members, claiming it is a strategic move to rig the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded press statement released Monday, the group criticized the President for allegedly appointing individuals with close ties to the State House and ruling party. The opposition cited a lack of transparency, impartiality, and constitutional adherence in the IEBC selection process, arguing that the newly proposed commission is politically compromised.
The opposition flagged specific nominees including Hassan Noor, who they claim was added to the shortlist late following influence from MP Junet Mohammed, and Joy Midivo, Charles Nyachae, and Erastus Edung, all of whom were accused of having strong ties to the ruling coalition or previous failures in public office. They also questioned the impartiality of Dr. Adams Oloo, a member of the selection panel and reportedly a presidential communications advisor.
“This is not a commission for the people. It is a project designed to rig the next election in broad daylight,” read the statement, which also accused President Ruto and former opposition leader Raila Odinga of colluding in what they termed “state capture” of the electoral body.
Citing Article 88(2) of the Constitution, the statement emphasized the IEBC must remain independent and free from political influence. The opposition vowed to establish a People’s IEBC, described as a citizen-led watchdog to monitor electoral integrity and advocate for democratic principles.
The group called for the immediate public release of the selection panel’s exit report and relevant parliamentary records to allow public scrutiny of the recruitment criteria. They also pledged to mobilize citizens against what they described as a “rogue regime.”
“This is not just about 2027. It is about the soul of our democracy,” the statement concluded.
Signatories of the statement include prominent political figures such as Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, Justin Muturi, and Fred Matiang’i, among others.
There has been no official response from State House or the IEBC Selection Panel as of the time of publication.
