With just days to the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has turned up the pressure on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), accusing it of failing to act against alleged election offenders and instead warning that the poll could be cancelled if violence and voter bribery continue.
Speaking at the DCP offices in Nairobi, Gachagua said the commission should be using the powers granted to it under the law to deal with those accused of disrupting the electoral process rather than issuing public warnings about the fate of the July 16 by-election.
He argued that if the commission already has reports identifying individuals allegedly involved in voter bribery and other election offences, it should move swiftly to enforce the law instead of shifting attention to the possibility of postponing the vote.
"Before you can threaten to cancel the election because of voter bribery, can you summon these individuals and pull them out of Ol Kalou and let the law take its course?"
Gachagua's remarks came a day after IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon cautioned that the by-election could be postponed or cancelled if the commission determines that conditions for a free, fair and peaceful election cannot be guaranteed.
According to Ethekon, the commission has received reports of violent confrontations, destruction of campaign materials, late-night campaigns and alleged voter bribery, all of which have heightened concern ahead of the mini-poll.
Gachagua maintained that protecting the credibility of elections is the responsibility of the electoral commission, saying it should deal firmly with anyone accused of breaking election laws.
"You are the one who is supposed to take action against these people. Then you are shouting, 'Oh, this election I can cancel. There is too much voter bribery. Oh, there could be violence.'"
He further questioned why the commission appeared to be appealing to residents instead of taking action against those accused of violating election rules.
"You are the one charged with the responsibility of managing elections in Kenya, not the Kenyan people. What do you want the people of Ol Kalou to do?" he posed.
The IEBC warning followed a series of reported incidents that the commission said had increased tensions ahead of the by-election, including clashes between rival political camps, claims of voter bribery and the destruction of campaign materials.
Ethekon said the commission would not hesitate to postpone the election if the prevailing environment failed to meet the standards required for a free, fair and peaceful vote.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of MP David Kiaraho. The by-election will be among the first major electoral tests for the reconstituted IEBC as it prepares for the 2027 General Election.