President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet has hit out at opposition leaders questioning the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) procurement process, accusing them of showing signs of early defeat despite their confidence of unseating the President in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Butere, Kakamega County, during a women and boda boda empowerment programme, Kibet took aim at opposition leaders, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, over their concerns surrounding the IEBC tender for election technology.Kibet questioned why leaders who have repeatedly claimed they have the numbers to defeat Ruto were already raising alarm over the electoral commission’s procurement process.
“For opposition, we don’t want to hear you complaining because you said you will defeat William Ruto. Why have you started making noise this early?” Kibet said.
Photo|Farouk Kibet.
His remarks came after Gachagua raised concerns over the procurement of the Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), alleging that the tender specifications were designed to favour South Korean technology firm Miru Systems.
Gachagua has demanded greater transparency in the process, arguing that the procurement could affect the credibility of the 2027 election.However, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has dismissed the allegations, saying the procurement process is still at its initial stages and that no company has been awarded the tender.
The commission said the tender process was temporarily halted following a request for review before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.Kibet’s remarks appeared to turn the controversy into a political contest, suggesting that opposition leaders were already preparing excuses for a possible defeat in 2027.
He challenged the opposition to concentrate on mobilising voters instead of attacking the electoral commission over procurement matters.The Butere event also brought together leaders and residents for an empowerment programme targeting women and boda boda groups, with the initiative aimed at supporting livelihoods and strengthening economic opportunities at the grassroots.
Kibet’s comments come as political temperatures rise ahead of the 2027 General Election, with both the government and opposition camps positioning themselves for an increasingly competitive contest.