Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has warned opposition leaders against undermining the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying attacks on the electoral body could erode public confidence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mr Mudavadi called on political leaders and aspirants to protect the credibility and independence of the constitutional commission while ensuring that concerns about the electoral process are raised through evidence, transparency, lawful oversight and established dispute-resolution mechanisms.
“Maintaining the integrity and public trust of the IEBC is critical for ensuring stable democratic processes and peaceful transitions of power. When the opposition attacks the referee, it seems they are not ready to get into the field,” Mr Mudavadi warned.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary said the country is not ready to witness another round of the divide-and-rule game, claiming that the opposition is trying to repeat what has happened in previous election years, especially during Wafula Chebukati’s regime, when the commission was divided down the middle.
He defended the independence of the commission, citing the recent by-elections that have been conducted by the Erastus Ethekon team, having been successful under the parameters of free, fair and credible polls.
“When the opposition won the Ol Kalou seat, they praised the IEBC, but a few weeks later they are out discrediting the same commission. What has changed all of a sudden? This opposition is scared to face President Ruto on the ballot,” Mr Mudavadi posed.
“The opposition should stop dictating to the IEBC. Whatever decisions the commission makes are internal and guided by both the constitution and law. When the commission decides on how to deploy its officers, the opposition should stop raising questions that some officers are being deployed to far-flung areas. Kenya is one, and all voters have a right to vote freely without any discrimination. All Kenyans should be served equally by this commission to exercise their democratic right.”
Mr Mudavadi and Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli also asked aspirants in the United Democratic Alliance Party to get out of their comfort zones and ensure President William Ruto clinches a parliamentary majority in the next Parliament.
Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli addresses the media at Tom Mboya Labour College Kisumu on September 5, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation
Mr Mudavadi warned that failure to win most seats in Parliament would make President Ruto and UDA not only the weaker partner in the broad-based coalition with the Orange Democratic Movement party, but also a lame-duck president should he be re-elected in 2027.
Mr Atwoli said Mr Mudavadi still holds majority support in the Western region, urging the community to back the Prime Cabinet Secretary and ensure he has the numbers when sitting in President Ruto’s government.
With less than a year to the General Election, Mr Mudavadi made it clear that plans are in top gear to establish a coalition framework between ODM and UDA whose structures will be completely different from the Kenya Kwanza agreement and will last for five years.
“One thing is clear, under the broad-based government, Ruto will be the presidential candidate. You cannot make him the leader of a broad-based arrangement and then he is the weaker member of the coalition,” said Mr Mudavadi.
Mr Mudavadi drew a parallel with the Grand Coalition government, where the late President Mwai Kibaki and his party, the Party of National Unity, had inferior numbers compared with their partners, the Orange Democratic Movement led by the late Raila Odinga.
During the 2008–2013 regime, ODM held the largest parliamentary majority in the National Assembly with 99 seats, while Kibaki's PNU won 43 seats. Kalonzo Musyoka’s ODM-K later aligned with PNU, bringing the pro-presidential side to roughly 92 seats, while other parties such as Kanu held the remaining 15 seats.
“One of the challenges Kibaki had was his party PNU did not have enough muscle in the grand coalition government. It became difficult to pass legislation through parliament. Ruto has just started scratching the surface with the beyond 2030 agenda, if we want continuity is by ensuring he gets another term with majority,” said Mr Mudavadi.
He added: “I must be hard on you (aspirants) because it is not business as usual. It will be a big mistake if we weaken the president in his second term.”
The two were speaking in Kisumu on Saturday during an engagement with political aspirants from the Western region at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, as part of ongoing consultations on preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The engagement focused on the need for disciplined political organisation, credible and transparent party nominations, increased voter registration and peaceful competition ahead of the General Election.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary urged aspirants to prepare for competition by winning the confidence of voters rather than relying on claims of entitlement or predetermined outcomes.
Mr Mudavadi asked the aspirants from UDA to put in extra effort and activate their own machinery on the ground to popularise the party and themselves on various platforms ahead of the next elections.
He said UDA has a very strong and highly accurate opinion-polling system, and the only way to be captured by its radar is by activating themselves.
To be President, Mr Mudavadi pointed out that a candidate needs a minimum of 25 per cent in 24 counties and 50 per cent plus one vote, asking aspirants to mobilise voters for the President.
He stated that ODM’s declaration that they want power should not be taken lightly because they will ensure they clinch it.
“ODM are clear that they want political power. They have been very categorical and we should not take it lightly. They are entitled to and will drive a hard bargain. If UDA is weak, their bargain will be bigger. If we are stronger, the bargain will be measured and balanced. These are the realities,” said Mr Mudavadi.
The COTU Secretary General asked the people of Western to back Mr Mudavadi, saying he remains the Luhya spokesperson, political and community leader, and that it would look bad if the Prime Cabinet Secretary did not have the Luhya backing.
“In 2016, we wanted to know who is popular in Western Kenya. We hired experts on research and statistics from the University of Nairobi who gave us a report that it was Mudavadi who was popular and was endorsed by elders too. So long as he is there, he can’t be removed from the throne because it is not an elective seat,” said Mr Atwoli.
He said Mudavadi is still respected across the community and less confrontational, urging the youthful leaders to support him.
“I recognize Moses Wetangula, Wycliffe Oparanya and Edwin Sifuna whose time I believe is not yet ripe, but I recognize his emergence. He is going to be there after us, but his time is not now. And if you want to know that it is not yet his time, you cannot start going round before you are prepared with what you have in your hand, elsewhere you see someone (Orengo) is also declaring his candidature for the same seat. You can see the confusion,” said Mr Atwoli.
