Rigathi Gachagua has demanded answers on voter registration in border counties.
The former deputy president demands border registration figures and an audit update, while the commission rejects claims of illegal registration.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has threatened nationwide IEBC protests unless the commission explains voter registration in border counties. He said he would mobilise 10,000 people to occupy its headquarters over the concerns.
Speaking during a television interview on Wednesday, October 29, Gachagua demanded registration figures for Wajir, Mandera and other border regions. He also sought details of preparations to audit the voter register ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua outlines proposed IEBC protests
The Democracy for the Citizens Party leader said demonstrations would extend to constituency electoral offices across the country. He said protesters would remain until chairman Erastus Edung Ethekon and the commissioners addressed their concerns.
Gachagua also said he had agreed with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to seek answers. However, neither politician’s position on the proposed demonstrations has been independently established.
Separately, he asked whether the commission had procured a firm to audit the voter register. Gachagua said he expected completion by February 2027 and demanded an explanation of how the commission would meet that deadline.
IEBC rejects illegal registration claims
The demands follow allegations that Ugandan nationals obtained Kenyan identity documents and voter cards in border areas, including Suam. Other allegations concern the purported movement of voter-registration equipment across the Kenya-Uganda border.
However, the IEBC has rejected claims that it is illegally registering foreigners. In a September 27 statement, Ethekon said the commission had received no credible evidence of illegal registration or unauthorised voter transfers.
He also explained that the IEBC does not issue identity cards or passports. Instead, it registers eligible Kenyan citizens who hold valid identification documents.
The commission denied that KIEMS kits had disappeared or moved to unauthorised locations outside Kenya. It said authorised officers retain custody of equipment, with secure storage at designated police stations or IEBC offices.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations denied reports that its officers intercepted a vehicle carrying election-related materials at Suam. Spokesperson John Marete said the reported arrest and subsequent transfer of an officer had not occurred.
Border citizenship checks divide leaders
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended eligible Kenyans living across the border who seek identification documents. He argued that residence in Uganda does not automatically remove a Kenyan citizen’s right to government services.
However, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has called for stricter vetting to prevent foreigners from obtaining Kenyan documents. Claims about the number of potentially ineligible voters remain unverified.
The IEBC has urged anyone with evidence of malpractice to submit it for investigation. It has also warned that unverified allegations could weaken public confidence in the electoral process.
