Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of attempting to push through an election management system tender that he claims is designed to favour South Korean firm Miru Systems.
Gachagua warned that changing the election management system less than a year before the 2027 General Election could disrupt preparations and create risks around the integrity of the voters’ register.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the former Deputy President alleged that IEBC had tailored the tender specifications to give Miru Systems an advantage.
He further claimed that officials within the commission’s Directorate of Supply Chain Management and Directorate of Electoral Management had been pressured to take ownership of the disputed specifications as IEBC defended the procurement before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB).
Gachagua also alleged that officials who declined to support the requirements were transferred to what he described as “far-flung counties”.
The DCP leader questioned whether the commission had enough time to procure and implement a new election management system ahead of the 2027 polls.
“It is my considered opinion, following advice from procurement experts and IEBC insiders, that it is not technically possible to procure a new election management system given that the elections are 11 months away,” he said.
Gachagua warned that replacing the existing system at this stage could expose the voters’ register to interference, particularly in areas where he claimed President William Ruto had faced political rejection.
He urged IEBC to abandon the tender and instead upgrade the existing election management system to address its shortcomings.
“I call upon the IEBC to call off this tender and instead upgrade the current system,” Gachagua said.
IEBC Rejects Claims of Tender Bias
The allegations come days after IEBC rejected claims that its procurement process had been designed to favour Miru Systems.
IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon said no company, including Miru Systems, had been awarded the tender, maintaining that the procurement process was open, transparent and above board.
The electoral commission also denied tailoring the tender specifications for any particular company.
However, IEBC acknowledged an error in the tender documents requiring bidders to provide performance security equivalent to 20 per cent of the contract value, above the 10 per cent legal limit.