Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe has hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his criticism of Kenya’s electoral system, declaring that the opposition cannot blame the IEBC for what he termed an impending defeat in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Butere and Narok, Mugabe challenged Gachagua and his allies to stop complaining about the electoral commission and instead focus on presenting an agenda that can convince Kenyans to vote for them.
“Hata mkiweka Senator Methu kama IEBC chairperson, Ruto atawashinda,” Mugabe said.
Mugabe appeared to mock Gachagua’s concerns over the IEBC, arguing that changing the leadership of the electoral commission would not guarantee victory for the opposition.
Photo|Likuyani Mp Innocent Mugabe and Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.
His remarks come at a time when Gachagua and his allies have intensified their criticism of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections. Gachagua has positioned himself as a key figure in efforts to unite opposition forces behind a single candidate against President William Ruto.
Mugabe accused the opposition of lacking a clear development agenda for the country, instead concentrating on political confrontations that he said could derail government programmes.
He urged Gachagua and other opposition leaders to present their alternative policies to Kenyans rather than continuously raising concerns about the electoral system.
The Likuyani MP maintained that President Ruto would retain the support of Kenyans based on the government’s development record, dismissing claims that opposition parties could easily defeat him in 2027.
Mugabe’s reference to Nyandarua Senator John Methu is particularly pointed, given Methu’s close association with Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). Methu has recently taken a prominent role in the party’s activities and has been working with DCP-aligned lawmakers.
The MP’s remarks are likely to intensify the political battle between Ruto’s allies and Gachagua’s camp as the two sides increasingly turn their attention to Western Kenya and other regions ahead of the 2027 contest.