Behind closed doors: What Kalonzo and Karua demanded from IEBC

thenamlola@gmail.com

A tense closed-door meeting between the United Opposition and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) laid bare deep mistrust, blunt demands, and stark warnings that public confidence in the electoral body is crumbling ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Led by Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka People’s Liberation Party, Martha Karua, the opposition leaders exposed what they called fault lines inside IEBC.

They accused the Commission of shielding CEO Hussein Marjan, overseeing a shaky KIEMS kits procurement process, and drifting dangerously close to the elections without credibility, neutrality, or public trust.

Ms Karua bluntly flagged Marjan’s tenure and warned that they were uncomfortable with his 'overstaying'.

Mr Musyoka said the Commission is widely seen as aligned with President William Ruto, warning that such perceptions have poisoned public trust and could trigger political tensions if not corrected.

He also highlighted the KIEMS kits procurement, stressing that election technology is central to ensuring transparent, free, and fair elections, and that any misstep could undermine the entire process.

The opposition made it clear that trust cannot be rebuilt with statements alone.

Immediate action, transparency, and accountability are non-negotiable.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon acknowledged the concerns, insisting the Commission is committed to neutrality, legality, and constitutional obligations, and that all procurement and administrative decisions follow existing laws and frameworks.

The Commission also pledged structured stakeholder engagements, an open-door policy, and full transparency in procurement and consultative processes to deliver a credible and verifiable election.

The opposition, however, warned that words alone will not suffice. IEBC must act decisively now or risk eroding public trust ahead of 2027.

Utility box: The key demands by Kalonzo and Karua

• Review of Hussein Marjan’s tenure as IEBC CEO amid credibility and suitability concerns
• Full transparency on KIEMS kits procurement to guarantee election integrity
• Concrete steps to restore independence and dispel perceptions of Ruto alignment
• Decisive action to rebuild public trust before election day
• Accountability at all levels of the Commission
• Visible reforms--not promises--to secure confidence in the 2027 polls.