Opposition leaders are accusing State House of engineering a partisan electoral body ahead of the 2027 polls.

In a statement on Tuesday, key opposition figures branded the newly appointed IEBC team as a “State House project,” alleging it was tailored to guarantee Ruto’s re-election. They claim the process was rigged from the start and warn of grave consequences for Kenya’s democratic future.

“What we feared has now come to pass. Ruto has handpicked a commission tailored to secure his re-election. This is not an IEBC for the people, it’s a rigging machine,” read the joint statement signed by opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, Justin Muturi, and Fred Matiang’i.

The opposition coalition points to what it describes as glaring conflicts of interest and political interference. Among the most contentious nominations is Erastus Ethekon, the proposed chairperson, whom they label a staunch Ruto loyalist. Another nominee, Dr. Adams Oloo, who was President William Ruto’s communication advisor.

The opposition has now announced the formation of a parallel electoral body the People’s IEBC. The watchdog, they say, will act as a shadow commission grounded in Article 10 of the Constitution, which speaks to national values, democracy, and transparency.

“To the people of Kenya: remain vigilant. Ruto’s desperation to cling to power must and will be stopped,” the leaders urged.

Since the resignation of all IEBC commissioners in early 2023 following the crisis triggered by the disputed 2022 elections there has never been a functional electoral commission. The vacuum has now been filled by a list of seven new nominees, whose vetting by the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) will begin 27th July, 2025.

The JLAC process, which includes public hearings and invites citizen submissions, is legally required under the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approvals) Act. Speaker Moses Wetang’ula confirmed the President’s communication had reached Parliament on Monday, setting the process in motion.