Kalonzo Accuses Ruto of Plotting to Rig 2027 Election
In a forceful statement delivered in Kitui County during the burial of his uncle, veteran politician Kalonzo Musyoka accused President William Ruto of orchestrating a scheme to manipulate Kenya’s upcoming 2027 presidential election. Kalonzo, leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya (Wiper DM), asserted that the president was already deploying state agencies and influencing the makeup of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to secure victory in both by-elections and the general vote.
Kalonzo pointed in particular to the government’s recent nominations for IEBC leadership — including the appointment of Erastus Edung Ethekon as chair — describing the process as unconsultative, partisan and undermining institutional trust.
Beyond the commission appointments, he accused the government of selectively using the Ethics and Anti‑Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other state organs to intimidate opposition figures rather than pursue genuine accountability. He warned that any attempt to tamper with the electoral process would spark unrelenting resistance.
Reactions were swift: ministers aligned with the ruling camp dismissed Kalonzo’s claim as a sign of opposition panic and attempts to discredit the IEBC ahead of its work. For example, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki issued a sharp rebuke, declaring that the commission’s commissioners could not influence elections in anyone’s favour and that the government’s re-election plans did not depend on fudging the vote.
Observers say the clash reflects deeper tensions over Kenya’s democratic trajectory, with rising concerns about election credibility even before the campaign proper begins.
Looking ahead, this public dispute places renewed pressure on electoral institutions and political actors to demonstrate transparency and fairness as 2027 approaches. The IEBC must now navigate heightened scrutiny, while opposition parties will watch its every move for signs of bias. Meanwhile, Kalonzo and his allies appear intent on positioning themselves as defenders of electoral integrity — but their credibility will also depend on putting forward a positive vision rather than simply casting doubt. Kenya’s political landscape may yet pivot on how these allegations and responses shape public trust in the process.