The 2027 election technology tender has not been awarded to any company, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has said, pushing back against claims that the procurement process was already tilted towards a particular supplier.
Ethekon said on Thursday, August 27, 2026, that the procurement of the Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS) was still underway and that the commission had not reached the point of choosing a successful bidder.
His remarks came after Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua questioned the process and alleged that an overseas firm had already been favoured in the procurement of technology for the 2027 General Election.
Ethekon said IEBC only started the process after advertising the tender and maintained that no company could have been awarded the contract because the commission had not yet identified the firms taking part.
“The commission informs the public that the procurement process for technology commenced with the advertisement of the tender and it is still at its initial stages,” he said.
"No award has been made to any company since the commission is not aware of those companies that would be competing in this tender."
The chairperson said the complete tender documents were published on the IEBC website and the Public Procurement Information Portal (PPIP) on August 11, 2026.
He said the technical requirements were not written for a particular company but were instead generic and performance-based to allow all qualified suppliers to compete.
According to Ethekon, IEBC developed the requirements after considering Supreme Court directives, experience from earlier elections and views gathered from officers working in different parts of the country.
He said the procurement must pass through the required stages before the commission can make a final decision, adding that the process would be guided by existing procurement laws.
Ethekon cautioned against attempts to question or undermine a process that had not been concluded, saying such interventions could affect the commission's work.
Gachagua had raised the issue during a press briefing on Wednesday, August 26, alleging that IEBC had already settled on an overseas company.
The former Deputy President also questioned whether some of the technical specifications could give one supplier an advantage over others.
He demanded access to internal documents used in preparing and approving the tender, including committee minutes, technical working papers, market surveys and approval records.
“Can IEBC produce documentary evidence showing who drafted the technical specifications,” he asked.
Gachagua also challenged IEBC over the Sh30 million tender security requirement, arguing that bidders had not been given enough information to properly assess the financial risks involved.
"Why did IEBC require a tender security of Sh30 million while failing to disclose sufficient information regarding the quantities, commercial scope, estimated procurement value, or the budgetary basis necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 61 of the PPADA, and how were bidders expected to assess commercial risk under those circumstances?" Gachagua asked.
Ethekon defended the commission's handling of the procurement, saying IEBC was acting within the requirements of Chapter 12 of the Constitution and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.
He said the commission was also committed to complying with Article 227 of the Constitution when procuring election technology and ballot papers.
The IEBC chairperson disclosed that the procurement of the IEMS and ballot papers had temporarily been put on hold after review requests were lodged with the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.
He called on potential suppliers to take part in the process competitively and avoid political efforts aimed at influencing the commission.
"No amount of politically instigated allegations, intimidation, threats and malicious propaganda whatsoever will determine how we execute our mandate. Our actions shall be based solely on our interpretation and application of the relevant laws and processes," he said.
Ethekon said bidders with complaints or concerns had legal avenues through which they could seek redress.
He also responded to separate allegations involving the commission, rejecting claims of bribery, voter suppression and manipulation of the voter register.
On allegations that politicians had bought him a house to influence his decisions, Ethekon said there was no evidence to support the claims and challenged Gachagua to submit any proof to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
He further dismissed accusations of malpractice involving the chairperson, vice chairperson and IEBC staff, describing them as false and fabricated.
Ethekon said the voter register remained under IEBC's exclusive custody and denied claims that the commission intended to suppress voters in particular regions or hand registration information to outside parties.
"Therefore, the allegations of bribery, pre-determination of awards and voter suppression are false, alarming and have the potential to incite the public and undermine confidence in a constitutional process," he concluded.