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Leave IEBC alone, Ruto allies tell Opposition
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chair Erastus Edung (center) flanked by fellow commissioners address the media at the commission offices in Nairobi on January 27, 2026.
What you need to know:
- The Opposition is demanding the sacking of the electoral agency's CEO, Marjan Hussein Marjan.
- Leaders of the United opposition also wants electoral agency to cut ties with Smartmatic.
Allies of President William Ruto have defended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) against a fresh onslaught by the United Opposition.
Speaking during an economic empowerment forum targeting women traders at Kisayani Township in Makueni County, the team, led by President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet, called on the opposition to leave the election agency alone and instead face the electorate.
“We have seen the opposition has embarked on camping at the IEBC headquarters as well as the and at police headquarters. They are already sensing defeat,” Mr Kibet said.
His sentiments were echoed by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) national treasurer and Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi.
“Initially the opposition was calling for the reconstitution of the IEBC. After that was done, the opposition has now embarked on endless complaints This is what happens when someone has sensed defeat. The opposition should leave the IEBC and the police alone. They should know it is the voters, and not IEBC, who elect leaders. The opposition should end its meetings in hotels and face the electorate to explain its development agenda,” said Mr Nyakundi.
The calls came days after the opposition, led by Wiper Patriotic Front's Kalonzo Musyoka and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua camped at IEBC headquarters to pile pressure on the electoral agency to sack its CEO, Marjan Hussein Marjan, ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The opposition leaders have accused Mr Marjan of bias. The opposition also wants electoral agency to cut ties with Smartmatic, the technology company it contracted to manage the 2022 General Election.
IEBC Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein Marjan.
But in their response, President Ruto’s allies dismissed the opposition's concerns.
“If the opposition has no confidence in facing President Ruto they should step aside,” said Likuyani MP Innocent Mugambe.
Members of Parliament from the Kenya Kwanza coalition took turns to woo the Kamba community to back President Ruto's re-election bid.
They also intensified calls on Mr Musyoka to cut ties with Mr Gachagua and instead team up with President Ruto. They warned the Wiper leader that he risks leading Ukambani region to another period of political isolation.
Two former allies of Mr Musyoka who addressed the forum explained why they had ditched him.
“I was elected on a Wiper ticket but I quit the camp after realizing that the opposition cannot deliver development projects for my electorate,” Taveta MP John Bwire said.
Similarly, Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna rallied the Kamba community to back President Ruto’s re-election campaign.
The forum raised Sh5 million to boost women entrepreneurs in Kikumbulyu North Ward.
President Ruto contributed Sh2 million, Mr Kibet gave a contribution of Sh1million, while Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse donated Sh500,000.
Leaders who attended the function said the empowerment drive is in line with President Ruto’s bottom-up economic agenda.
“After completing an economic empowerment drive at the constituency level, we have decided to roll out a new wave which targets small scale traders at the ward level. We have started with Kikumbukyu North Ward. The plan is to boost women running small businesses,” Mr Mutuse said.
