Muturi Accuses IEBC of Delaying 2027 Election Preparations, Demands Recall of Key Officials

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 4 – Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of undermining preparations for the 2027 General Election, demanding the immediate recall of key officials involved in the procurement of election technology.

Muturi, speaking on behalf of the United Alternative Government, said the commission should take responsibility for delays in its preparations instead of attributing the challenges to ongoing court cases.

In a statement responding to the IEBC’s warning that litigation over election technology could disrupt preparations for the August 2027 polls, Muturi argued that the commission’s internal decisions were also contributing to the delays.

He claimed that the electoral agency was already behind schedule on several critical milestones under its Election Operations Plan, raising concerns about its ability to deliver a credible election.

Muturi questioned why key officials, including the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Procurement, were reportedly out of the country at a time when the commission was expected to be handling critical procurement decisions.

He further claimed that the election technology tender had been put on hold to allow members of the evaluation committee to travel abroad.

The former Attorney General described the developments as concerning, arguing that the commission could not demand expedited resolution of court cases while suspending its own processes over officials’ foreign travel.

“The Commission cannot, on the one hand, plead with the courts to speed up cases, and on the other hand, freeze its own processes for foreign travel,” he said.

Muturi also raised concerns over the cost of procuring the technology, warning against awarding the tender at inflated prices.

He maintained that some bidders of established reputation had submitted proposals within the budgetary allocation provided in the approved procurement plan.

He said any decision to award the contract at a higher cost despite the availability of compliant and responsive bids within budget would raise questions about the use of public funds.

The United Alternative Government called on the IEBC to immediately recall all officers considered critical to the procurement process and resume the evaluation of the election technology tender without further delay.

It also urged the commission to ensure the procurement process is transparent, fair and compliant with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.

The statement comes amid growing scrutiny of the IEBC’s preparations for the 2027 General Election, particularly the procurement of the Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), which will support voter identification and the transmission and management of election results.

The technology tender has faced legal and procurement challenges, including reviews of its requirements by the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.

The IEBC has previously maintained that it has sufficient time to procure and test the election technology, while calling for court cases affecting the process to be resolved expeditiously.

Muturi insisted that the commission must demonstrate urgency and accountability, warning that Kenyans would demand answers over decisions affecting preparations for the next General Election.

The United Alternative Government said the electoral agency must ensure that public resources are protected and that the procurement process does not compromise the credibility of the 2027 polls.

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