Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has raised fresh questions about the procurement of election technology for Kenya’s 2027 General Election, alleging that the outcome of a major IEBC tender has already been decided.
The tender, issued by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for an Integrated Elections Management System and related equipment, was advertised on August 11. It is scheduled to close on September 1 at 10 a.m.
Gachagua, the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party, claimed on Wednesday that South Korean technology company Miru Systems had already been chosen to supply the system, despite the procurement process remaining open.
“What Kenyans do not know is that the tender process and result has already been preconceived and is awaiting rubber stamping,” Gachagua alleged.
He questioned how the technical requirements were drawn up and whether they could unfairly favour a particular supplier. He also raised concerns about changes within the IEBC procurement department and alleged that government officials had held discussions with Miru Systems over the integration of election technology.
Those claims have not been independently substantiated.
Gachagua also questioned Miru Systems’ record in other countries, citing alleged problems involving election technology in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines and Iraq’s Kurdistan region. He argued that Kenya should exercise caution before adopting new technology so close to a national election.
The IEBC has not, at the time of reporting, publicly responded to all of the allegations made by Gachagua. The commission’s procurement process remains open, meaning the eventual winner cannot yet be established from the tender process itself.
The dispute comes as the IEBC steps up preparations for the 2027 polls. The commission has projected a voter register of about 28.5 million and said biometric technology will remain central to voter identification and verification.
Election technology is likely to remain a closely watched issue in the run-up to the vote. For Gachagua, the questions are about transparency and public confidence. For the IEBC, the procurement process will ultimately have to withstand scrutiny from political parties, bidders and the public.
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