Democratic Party of Kenya leader Justin Muturi has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of failing to take responsibility for delays in preparations for the 2027 General Election, warning that the commission’s conduct could undermine the delivery of a credible poll.
Muturi, speaking on behalf of the United Alternative Government, said the IEBC should not blame ongoing court cases over election technology procurement for the delays, arguing that the commission’s own decisions were contributing to the situation.
In a press statement, the opposition leader acknowledged that litigation could slow down procurement processes but maintained that the electoral body had other internal challenges that needed to be addressed urgently.
He claimed that the commission was already behind schedule on several critical milestones required for the implementation of its Election Operations Plan.
Muturi further raised concerns over the reported absence of key IEBC officials, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Head of Procurement, saying their absence at a crucial stage of the election technology tender raised questions about the commission’s priorities.
According to the opposition, the two officials were out of the country on official missions that could have been postponed to allow them to focus on the procurement process.
The opposition also alleged that the evaluation of the election technology tender had been put on hold to allow members of the evaluation committee to travel abroad.
Muturi questioned the decision to suspend the process at a time when the country was approaching critical election preparation deadlines.
He argued that the commission could not simultaneously urge courts to expedite cases affecting the procurement process while allowing its own internal activities to stall over foreign travel.
The opposition’s concerns come amid growing attention on the procurement of election technology ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the IEBC warning that legal disputes could interfere with its preparations.
Muturi also cautioned against possible inflated costs in the procurement of election technology, insisting that taxpayers should not be forced to pay more than necessary for the systems.
He said there were reputable bidders whose proposals fell within the budgetary allocation provided for in the approved procurement plan.
The opposition warned that awarding the tender at a higher cost despite the availability of compliant bids within the approved budget would amount to a waste of public resources.
It vowed to demand accountability if the commission proceeded with what it considers an unnecessarily expensive procurement process.
The United Alternative Government called on the IEBC to immediately recall all officers involved in the procurement exercise and resume the evaluation of the election technology tender without further delays.
It also urged the commission to ensure that the procurement process was transparent, fair and compliant with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.
Muturi maintained that Kenyans were closely monitoring the commission’s actions, warning that those entrusted with overseeing the country’s electoral preparations would ultimately be held accountable for their decisions.
