Leaders from Kenya's opposition parties met with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on January 28 to discuss concerns ahead of the 2027 elections. They agreed on a framework to address grievances and build trust. The meeting was described as constructive by participants.
On January 28, 2026, opposition leaders led by Rigathi Gachagua of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP), alongside Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Patriotic Front, Martha Karua of the People's Liberation Party (PLP), Eugene Wamalwa of the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K), and Fred Matiang’i, Jubilee deputy party leader, visited the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices at Anniversary Towers. The meeting served as a courtesy call, where they raised urgent issues ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The leaders expressed that the newly constituted commission remains fundamentally flawed and has yet to earn public trust, often perceived as a "William Ruto commission." They voiced dissatisfaction with the process and outcomes of the November by-elections, including the procurement of the KIEMS kit and involvement of the discredited Smartmatic organization.
"We were very candid. We are not happy with the process and outcome of the by-elections. We told them the perception out there that this is a William Ruto commission," Kalonzo said. He added, "We were unhappy with the procurement process of the KIEMS kit and the discredited Smartmatic organisation, which has been discredited worldwide. They have to give us demonstrable outcomes. We have agreed to work together with technical teams in a transparent manner."
Fred Matiang’i described the engagement as constructive, noting it was the first time the IEBC had committed to a structured framework for future interactions. "We had a cordial conversation. For the first time, we agreed and institutionalised our interaction with them. We will have another meeting to go through the issues we raised," Matiang’i said.
Gachagua maintained that the November by-elections were fundamentally flawed and that the upcoming February by-election would serve as a litmus test for the commission's credibility. "We have told the commissioners on behalf of the people of Kenya that elections are very emotive and they need to prepare adequately because if the people feel the elections are not credible, temperatures will get high," he said.
