A fresh political storm has hit the Narok Town Ward by-election after Democratic for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua claimed that a plan is underway to influence Thursday’s vote.
The by-election, scheduled for November 27, has already attracted high national interest due to its tight competition and growing tensions among major political players.
Gachagua made the allegations in a letter addressed to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Ethekon on Tuesday, November 25.
He stated that he had received credible intelligence pointing to attempts by certain state actors to interfere with the voting and tallying process.
According to him, a section of police officers and hired groups had been mobilised to cause disruptions at selected polling centres.
He warned that these groups were allegedly being prepared to block supporters of the DCP candidate, Douglas Masikonde, from voting freely.
Gachagua went further to claim that the same individuals were planning to intimidate DCP polling agents.
He argued that such intimidation, if allowed, would compromise transparency and open a path for manipulation of the results.
He also raised serious concerns about access to the tallying centre. In his letter, Gachagua claimed that plans had been made to prevent the DCP chief agent and the candidate from entering the tallying hall on election day.
According to him, the intention behind this move would be to create an environment where the Returning Officer could be pressured to declare the UDA candidate as the winner.
Gachagua urged the IEBC chairperson to assure all parties that the electoral process would remain open, secure, and fair.
He insisted that the commission should publicly outline security measures for polling stations and tallying centres to protect the integrity of the by-election.
He warned that if the commission failed to respond firmly to the concerns, its credibility would continue to suffer, especially as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.
He added that ensuring transparency in this by-election would help prevent post-election tensions, which have historically affected some parts of Narok.
Gachagua reminded the IEBC of past political violence in the region, recalling incidents from the early 1990s where communities clashed during election periods.
He urged the commission to avoid actions that could increase political temperatures.
His remarks came just a day after IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana confirmed that the electoral body would deploy plain-clothes police officers in areas considered highly competitive.
Mukhwana noted that rising political temperatures had forced the commission to enhance security measures to prevent conflicts on voting day.
With both sides trading accusations and the commission promising tight security, all eyes are now on Narok Town Ward as residents prepare to cast their votes.
The by-election has become a major test of trust for the IEBC and a key battleground for parties seeking to stamp their influence ahead of future political contests.
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