CS Duale urges IEBC to remain focused on delivering free, fair elections

Speaking at a wedding ceremony in Garissa on Saturday, Duale called on the electoral body to respect its constitutional mandate and ensure to run a credible election.

He urged IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon and all Commissioners to remain focused on the it's core mandate and exhibit transparency in all its activities, including procurement of election materials.

Duale stated that the IEBC must strictly adhere to the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act and all other procurement laws, leaving no room for shortcuts or irregular dealings.

"IEBC is a very critical institution...the stability and the security of this country is in your hands on how you prepare the next General Election. Everything you do you must do in accordance with the PFM Act. You must know the weight of your office," Duale noted.

"Please don't play around with the democratic values and the stability of our country. The IEBC chairman is the deciding officer of the presidential election. They must take their work seriously and do everything according to the law."

His remarks come amid heightened political temperatures as stakeholders jostle over the electoral body's preparations and technology choices.

This comes as the IEBC has been ordered to review and amend its tender for the supply and maintenance of the Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS) ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The Public Procurement Administrative Review Board has directed the electoral agency to correct, clarify and amend sections of the tender document after finding that some of its requirements and evaluation criteria were not sufficiently clear and objective.

Meanwhile, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that the Commission is hatching a plan to procure a new election management system to bungle the 2027 General Election.

According to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) boss, insiders from the commission have revealed to him that Chairman Erastus Ethekon and his Vice Chair Fahima Abdallah are determined to force MIRU Systems Technology from South Korea by awarding them the supply tender.

IEBC has however vowed to conduct a credible election, dismissing rhetoric from critics that they are incapable of conducting a poll.