The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed allegations by DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua that the government bought a house worth KSh200 million for its chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon.
In a statement on Thursday, August 27, the Commission rued that Gachagua’s claims were unfortunate, unfair and unsubstantiated.
This comes a day after Gachagua alleged that National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah had revealed the house purchase during a meeting with state officials. He went further to state that Ethekon was previously residing in a rented apartment before the alleged acquisition.
This was, however, not the first time the former deputy president was making this allegation, and the property’s worth had changed this time round.
“This allegation initially claimed that the house was worth KSh80 million and now the price has shifted to KSh200 million,” the IEBC said in the statement. “The allegations that a house has been purchased for the Chairperson of IEBC by some politicians for purposes of influencing him are unfortunate, unfair and unsubstantiated to date.”
It is in the spirit of accountability and fairness that the electoral agency demands that Gachagua provides evidence of the location of the house and transaction documents including sale agreements, transfer documents and payment receipts, details of the seller and purchaser among others, to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for investigations.
“The Kenyan public also needs to know the factual truth and nothing less. In the absence of any evidence, we urge the DCP leader to cease and desist from this reckless misinformation and smear campaign against the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson, Commissioners and staff of the IEBC,” the Commission warns.
According to the Commission, no politician will be allowed to undermine the credibility and integrity of IEBC Commissioners without justifiable reasons based on facts and evidence.
“Those who have specific issues with any member of IEBC should follow the right channels and due process and must afford them their rights including the rights to be informed of any wrongdoing in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Constitution and the laws of Kenya.”
Magarini By-election
Gachagua also made claims that IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat had interfered with the outcome of the preparations for the Magarini Parliamentary By-election, conducted on November 27, 2025.
The DCP leader further alleged that since Ethekon had never reprimanded his vice-chairperson over the Magarini mini-poll, it should be assumed that Araphat was acting on his chairperson’s instructions.
But in a rejoinder, IEBC the allegations of malpractices remain untrue and fabricated, aimed at tarnishing the names of the Commissioners and the Commission in general.
“Last year, the DCP leader similarly made unfounded allegations about the Vice-chairperson during the Magarini By Election. They remain false and unsubstantiated to date. The Magarini by-election was conducted in a free, fair and credible manner and there was no election petition filed. Furthermore, the Commission has successfully conducted a number of by-elections and is fully prepared to conduct the 2027 General Election.”
