Opposition leaders reject IEBC nominees list, allege plot to rig 2027 polls

Opposition leaders are now claiming that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) nominees presented to Parliament for approval to take up management of the electoral body are a project to rig the 2027 General Election.

In a statement, the opposition figures led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, accused President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga of selecting commissioners who are linked to them or their allies, compromising the integrity of the process.

The statement signed by 8 opposition leaders read: “President William Ruto has handpicked a partisan IEBC—tailored to serve his 2027 re-election ambitions. This is not a commission for the people. It is a project designed to rig the next election in broad daylight, with the silent approval of his newfound ally, Hon. Raila Odinga.”

The statement further notes that the recruitment process was flawed, claiming the selection panel was a political extension of State House—stuffed with Ruto’s loyalists and backroom advisors.

“The constitutional principles of consultation, public participation, and political neutrality were completely discarded,” it noted.

The opposition members raised concerns and even called for transparency. Instead, they claim they were met with deception, blatant manipulation and disregard of the principle of consultation and concurrence.

The opposition coalition is in particular opposed to the chair nominee Erastus Ethekon, who they claim is a known President Ruto loyalist with close ties to State House through Deputy State House Comptroller and former Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok.

Also in their red list is Hassan Noor, nominated to be IEBC commissioner. They claim he is a relative of Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and was not in the original shortlist.

The opposition demands the immediate and full publication of the selection panel’s exit report and all Hansard for public scrutiny of the criteria used to select the 7 IEBC nominees.