Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on the proposed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials to uphold the will of the people and act within the law as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an interview at his Wamunyoro home on May 16, Gachagua urged the nominees to demonstrate patriotism and impartiality, warning against any attempt to impose leaders on Kenyans.
“I want to implore those commissioners (nominees) to be Kenyans, to be patriotic, and not to attempt to force anyone on the people of Kenya. It will not work, and Kenyans will not accept it,” he stated during the Obina TV show.
Gachagua’s remarks come ahead of the National Assembly’s vetting of President William Ruto’s nominees for the IEBC, scheduled for May 26, 2025. Erastus Edung Ethekon has been nominated as chairperson, alongside commissioners Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla.
The Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs is currently receiving public submissions regarding the suitability of the nominees, amid court petitions challenging some appointments over concerns of impartiality.
Despite his call for integrity, Gachagua expressed no opposition to the President’s nominees, citing the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling that voters ultimately determine election outcomes. “I have no problem with the IEBC because the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the voter’s decision at the polling station is final,” he said.
Gachagua also acknowledged the growing political influence of Generation Z, describing them as a powerful, incorruptible force likely to impact the 2027 elections significantly. “This Gen Z group is lethal; they are not tribal, cannot be compromised, and cannot be bribed with Sh200,” he noted, adding that many are now acquiring IDs and preparing to register as voters.
Positioning himself as a key contender in the upcoming polls, Gachagua unveiled the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which he hopes will consolidate support in the Mount Kenya region and strengthen his challenge against President Ruto.
