By MKT Correspondents
A fierce political storm has broken out just two days before the Magarini Constituency by-election, after Democracy For The Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice Chairperson, Fahima Araphat Abdallah of interfering in the poll through intimidation, covert manipulation and alleged bribery.
In a strongly worded letter dated yesterday and addressed to IEBC chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, Gachagua claims that Abdallah has “self-assigned” roles designed to influence the outcome of the Thursday vote.
He argues that this interference is especially troubling given that the Magarini by-election itself was triggered by what he calls electoral malpractice during the 2022 elections.
Gachagua accuses the Vice Chair of violating the commission’s long-standing practice of not deploying commissioners to their home regions during elections.
He alleges that Abdallah travelled to Magarini last Friday where she allegedly bullied and coerced electoral officials, demanding the full list and contact details of all presiding officers.
Later that evening, he claims, Abdallah allegedly met Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro at a Malindi boutique hotel, accompanied by Commissioner Dr. Alutalala Mukhwana.
According to the DCP leader, that meeting involved a negotiation in which a bribe amount was allegedly agreed upon in exchange for the presiding officers’ details and influence over the by-election. He claims that Abdallah spent that night at the same hotel, saying the IEBC can verify the information through hotel records and CCTV footage. Gachagua further alleges that on Saturday, Governor Mung’aro paid a bribe deposit, after which Abdallah allegedly handed over the officers’ list and “full command” of the process to the governor.
The letter alleges that election officials were subsequently instructed to work closely with Governor Mung’aro and support his preferred candidate, a move Gachagua describes as intimidation and an “electoral malpractice ordeal.” Abdallah is also accused of spending a second night at the hotel before leaving for Nairobi on an evening flight.
Gachagua calls the alleged actions “shocking and unbelievable,” questioning how an IEBC Vice Chairperson could be involved in what he describes as a deliberate effort to bungle a by-election. He argues that such conduct undermines confidence in the commission ahead of the 2027 General Elections, warning that the country cannot afford even the perception of electoral mismanagement.
Writing partly on behalf of his party’s candidate in the Magarini race, Hon. Stanley Karisa Kenga, Gachagua demands the immediate replacement of all presiding officers in the constituency, the restraint of the Vice Chair from any involvement in the poll, and protection of election officials from harassment. He also calls for a thorough investigation into Abdallah’s conduct and insists that she immediately step down as Vice Chair and commissioner pending the probe.
Gachagua reminds the Chairperson of what he describes as the circumstances under which the commissioners ascended to office, cautioning him against ignoring public doubts. He warns that the 2027 elections will be emotive and that any missteps could plunge the country into instability. “Kenya is not Tanzania,” he writes, urging Ethekon to “do the right thing” and address the situation before trust in the IEBC erodes further.
The letter ends with a blunt question aimed at the electoral body: if an IEBC commissioner can be implicated in alleged malpractice this early, how can Kenyans trust the commission to deliver a credible general election in 2027?
Yesterday, Gachagua took his campaign to Narok Town to seek support for the area ward’s party candidate Douglas Masikonde.
However, he was temporarily barred from access the town but eventually went through after outwitting those behind the scheme.
“Clear instructions had been issued by this cowardly and brutal regime to block me and my entorouge from accessing Narok Town to campaign for the DCP party candidate for Narok Ward,” Gachagua said while addressing thousands of supporters in the town.
He added, “The people, a people united are stronger than all roadblocks, than all bullets, than all stones, than all teargas you have in store and high seas and than any dictator in the world!”
Narrating how he was able to manoeuvre his way, the former DP said, “Being a villager, I engaged my fellow villagers in Narok who guided through village paths unknown to the police and made a triumphant entry in Narok town and received by thousands of jubilant DCP supporters. How can you beat me in my game? The villagers triumphed and we have affirmed that the will of the people is supreme and the 27th November 2025 by-elections will spell this out clearly,”
He added, “No amount of blood money, police brutality or police excessive force will cow or intimidate the people of the Republic of Kenya.”
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