“IEBC, Ruto Plotting 2027 General Election Delay!” – Gachagua Says Amidst Malpractice In Ol Kalou
Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and President William Ruto’s administration of organising a conspiracy to postpone the 2027 general election.
Gachagua cited recent developments related to the approaching Ol Kalou by-election.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Friday, July 10, the former Deputy President questioned the election body’s plan to improve its ICT systems.
The DCP leader linked it to what he described as a big conspiracy to sway future elections.
Gachagua slams IEBC:
Gachagua warns IEBC against postponing Ol-Kalou by-election
Gachagua: We’ll not allow IEBC to postpone the by-election
Gachagua asks IEBC to act against electoral law violators#CitizenBriefs pic.twitter.com/QoryAahXwE— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) July 10, 2026
Gachagua claimed the commission’s warning that the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election could be postponed because of insecurity was a ‘test run’ for a similar move during next year’s General Election.
“We want to know why the IEBC system was closed for an update when we are going for the Ol Kalou by-election,” Gachagua stated.
“Is it that there is a secret plot to manipulate the system so that non-voters can vote in the elections?”
He further questioned the commission’s ability to conduct national elections if it was unable to guarantee a peaceful by-election in a single constituency.
Rigathi Gachagua: We are asking Mr Ethekon, where were you? This bribery has been going on for the last two months. Why didn’t you stop it? There is no violence in Ol Kalou. There was violence in Malava, and you didn’t stop it. There was violence in Narok, and you didn’t stop it.… pic.twitter.com/wvPr9VXpft— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) July 10, 2026
“The people of Kenya are asking that if the IEBC is afraid of conducting elections in one constituency because of violence, what happens next year when there is violence?” he said.
“Will they postpone the elections? Are you telling Kenyans that you cannot manage one election in Kenya?”
The DCP leader went on to accuse the commission of working in concert with the government to lay the groundwork for postponing the 2027 General Election.
“If you have no capacity to manage the by-elections, will you manage next year’s elections?” Gachagua asked.
“I think it is a scheme between Ruto and the IEBC to postpone the Ol Kalou election so as to set the ground for postponing next year’s election.”
Rigathi Gachagua: IEBC commissioners are dining with the State to procure and deliver unfair, predetermined by-election results in favour of the ruling party candidate. Please allow the people to decide pic.twitter.com/3Rk3hz1yDg— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) July 10, 2026
He challenged the current IEBC leadership to resign if it was unable to discharge its constitutional mandate.
Gachagua argued that Kenyans deserved an electoral body capable of conducting free, fair and credible elections under all circumstances.
At the same time, the former DP also accused state agencies of deliberately fuelling insecurity in Ol Kalou.
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He claimed that plain-clothes police officers and hired goons had been deployed from Nairobi to disrupt campaigns and intimidate opposition supporters ahead of the mini poll.
His remarks come a day after IEBC Chairperson Erustus Ethekon warned that the commission could postpone or even cancel the Ol Kalou by-election if violence, voter bribery and other breaches of the Electoral Code of Conduct persist.
“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,” Ethekon said on Thursday.
“If that is not enough, we will cancel it altogether.”
Separately, IEBC recently announced a routine upgrade of its ICT systems, temporarily affecting online voter search, voter transfers and change of voter particulars.
The commission explained that the maintenance was intended to enhance the reliability, security and performance of its digital services.
“IEBC, Ruto Plotting 2027 General Election Delay!” – Gachagua Says Amidst Malpractice In Ol Kalou
