DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua has advised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to cancel its KSh6.5 billion election technology tender.
In an official statement on September 1, 2026, Gachagua warned that changing the election management system less than a year to the 2027 General Election could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
According to the DCP party leader, IEBC should upgrade the existing election technology system and address the shortcomings that have been identified.
He questioned the timing of the procurement and raised questions about whether there would be sufficient time to introduce and test an entirely new system before the election day in 2027.
“I call upon the IEBC to call off the election technology tender and instead upgrade the current system to address the few shortcomings identified so far,” read part of Gachagua’s statement.
At the same time, Gachagua emphasized that his position was informed by advice from procurement experts and individuals within the electoral agency.
“It is my considered opinion, following advice from procurement experts and IEBC insiders, that it is not technically possible to procure a new election management system given that the elections are 11 months away, and there is practically no time to facilitate digital migration from the current system and address whatever inadequacies are anticipated,” he noted.
He added that there is real and genuine fear that the change of the election management system at this late hour is a scheme to interfere with the voters’ register.
Gachagua argued that the time available was insufficient to complete the procurement, facilitate digital migration from the existing system and address challenges that could emerge during the transition.
“There is practically no time to facilitate digital migration from the current system and address whatever inadequacies are anticipated,” he said.
His remarks emerged amid controversy surrounding the procurement of an Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), which has attracted scrutiny from political actors.
Gachagua claimed the procurement process was designed to favour a foreign firm which he described as a “discredited” technology provider.
