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By Portus Chege
As Kenyans, our collective aspiration for the 2027 General Election is simple: a process that is free, fair, and credible, whose outcome reflects the will of the people. It is from this paramount concern that we view recent developments with profound apprehension.
Growing public fear suggests a plan is afoot to manipulate the upcoming 2027 poll, a concern amplified by President William Samoei Ruto’s recent nomination of seven members to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). This body is constitutionally mandated to manage our elections and referenda, and its impartiality is the bedrock of our democratic process.
The professional and political records of all seven nominees indicate deep affiliations with the inner sanctums of the current Kenya Kwanza government. This perception, whether accurate or not, undermines public confidence and sets a troubling stage for the management of the poll. For an election to be credible, the electoral body must be beyond reproach.
This comes against the backdrop of plummeting public ratings for President Ruto, who faces a formidable political battle en route to 2027. The reasons for public disenchantment are legion, including concerns over extrajudicial killings, abductions, intolerance to dissent, high-level official corruption, government profligacy, the escalating cost of living, and rising unemployment.
The nominee for IEBC Chairperson, Dr. Erastus Edung Ethekon, hails from Turkana County and is considered an associate of Josphat Nanok, a key advisor in Ruto’s government. Other nominees, such as Ms. Mary Karen Sorobit from the president’s community and Ms. Ann Njeru Nderitu, the former Registrar of Political Parties, have records that tie them closely to the establishment. When commissioners are perceived as acolytes of the system, the public’s trust in their ability to be neutral arbiters is shattered.
Further eroding confidence are reckless and incendiary remarks from the president’s allies. Tiaty Member of Parliament Willy Kamtet was recently quoted vowing that President Ruto would clinch a second term “by hook or by crook.” Notably, Kamtet’s spouse is the head of Data at the IEBC, a conflict of interest that raises serious red flags.
This aligns with the “WANTAM/One Term” narrative being championed loudly by figures like impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who controls a significant portion of the Mount Kenya voting bloc that was crucial for Ruto’s 2022 victory. Gachagua himself reportedly warned that any attempt to rig the 2027 election would make the 2007 post-election chaos “look like a Christmas party,” a stark reminder of the high stakes involved.
The emergence of a formidable opposition alliance and the palpable sense of public disenchantment suggest President Ruto could be swept out by an avalanche of protest votes. The central question for 2027 is whether the institutional framework, particularly the IEBC, is robust enough to withstand political pressure and faithfully reflect the people’s verdict.
The tragic events following the disputed 2007 election, which left 1,300 dead and 600,000 displaced, serve as a permanent warning. The international community is also watching closely, with the potential for Kenya’s special status as a non-NATO ally to be reconsidered.
As Kenyans, we must now demand unwavering commitment to electoral integrity. We call for transparency in the IEBC’s operations, a renunciation of violent rhetoric, and concrete actions to rebuild trust in our electoral body. The credibility of the 2027 election is not a political bargaining chip; it is the minimum requirement for Kenya’s stability and democratic future.
Portus Chege is a Kenyan journalist based in the USA.
