By Jameson Mutua
The United Opposition has accused the government of orchestrating a coordinated plan to interfere with the November 27, 2025 by-elections, alleging a joint effort involving senior state officials, security agencies and the electoral commission to sway the outcome.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday at the SKM Command Center, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa claimed the government had deployed large numbers of police officers, including plainclothes units, across several constituencies in what they described as an intimidation strategy. They cited incidents in Narok Town, Malava and Mbeere North where unmarked vehicles were allegedly used to threaten voters.
The coalition further accused government officials, including MPs, county leaders, Cabinet Secretaries and the President, of engaging in voter bribery through the misuse of public resources. They alleged that food relief was being distributed as an inducement ahead of polling day.
According to the coalition, it had received credible reports of irregularities involving the serialization and inspection of the 820,000 ballot papers printed for Thursday’s vote. It claimed that weaknesses in the process created opportunities for ballot-stuffing and alleged that as many as 30,000 pre-marked ballots had already been ferried to battleground constituencies such as Magarini, Malava and Mbeere North. It also claimed that some presiding officers had been compromised.
Allegations of Illegal Campaigning and Planned Violence
The coalition accused government-aligned actors of campaigning beyond the legally permitted deadline, saying they were being escorted by police and accompanied by mobilized groups to influence voters.
It added that there were plans to instigate violence in some areas. In Malava, the coalition alleged that groups linked to political leaders had been mobilized, armed and positioned to cause chaos, reportedly under police protection. Such disruptions, it said, could create conditions favourable for ballot manipulation.
Drawing parallels to the Gen Z protests earlier in the year, the coalition accused police officers and hired groups of employing similar tactics to intimidate the public.
It also reiterated concerns about the alleged misuse of mobile phones inside polling stations, warning that their presence could compromise ballot secrecy. The coalition criticized the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for what it termed a “weak and insufficient” response to these concerns.
The Opposition accused the IEBC of failing to address issues raised by political actors and the media, arguing that the commission’s silence had eroded public trust in its independence.
“This new Commission now stands accused, not by us alone, but by its actions, of presiding over a process whose credibility grows more questionable by the day,” the statement read.
