On Tuesday, May 13, opposition leaders-including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua-issued a joint statement rejecting President William Ruto’s nominees to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
They accused President Ruto of nominating individuals with the intent to influence the commission in favor of his re-election ambitions.
The opposition questioned the selection of Erastus Edung as IEBC chairperson, highlighting his perceived close ties to Josphat Nanok, a deputy chief of staff. They also raised concerns about the inclusion of Hassan Noor, alleging he was added to the shortlist due to connections with National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed.
In their statement, the opposition leaders described the new commission as an extension of President Ruto’s campaign apparatus, expressing fears that the appointments amounted to “state capture and electoral fraud.”
To counter what they termed as the “subversion of democracy,” the opposition announced plans to establish a parallel electoral watchdog, dubbed the ‘People’s IEBC.’
This body will monitor the official commission’s activities in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election.
“As the People’s Opposition, we will not sit back and watch the subversion of democracy. We are taking immediate steps to establish a People’s IEBC-a citizen-led watchdog that will mirror the official commission and hold it to the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and constitutionalism as envisioned in Article 10 on national values and the principles of good governance,” the leaders declared.
