Gachagua Claims IEBC Using Civilian Officers for Ballot Stuffing in By-Elections

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has raised fresh concerns about the credibility of Thursday’s by-elections, accusing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of deploying plainclothes police officers to allegedly stuff ballot papers in favor of government-backed candidates.

Speaking Wednesday evening, November 26, 2025, at Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka’s (SKM) command center in Nairobi, Gachagua condemned what he described as blatant interference, saying this is the first time in Kenya’s electoral history that plainclothes officers have reportedly been allowed inside polling stations with the intention of facilitating ballot-stuffing.

Gachagua claimed the commission had distributed ballot papers to various government agencies, insisting that these agencies “have the responsibility of marking them.” He alleged that during voting, plainclothes officers would then insert pre-marked papers into ballot boxes.

The former DP said the situation in Mbeere North is especially alarming. According to him, authorities have already distributed 15,000 pre-marked ballot papers just a few kilometers from Embu Town. He added that officers in civilian clothing had been instructed to pose as observers, agents, and security officials, but were ultimately deployed to execute a ballot-stuffing plan.

“For the first time in the electoral history of Kenya, IEBC has confirmed that they will be using uniformed officers and plainclothes officers. Those plainclothes officers are a tool for ballot stuffing. IEBC has given ballot papers to government agencies that have been pre-marked, and the officers in civilian,” Gachagua said.

He called on IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, who is overseeing the by-election process in Mbeere North, to ensure no such interference occurs.

His accusations came just a day after IEBC Commissioner Mukhwana Alutalala announced that both plainclothes and uniformed officers would be deployed in areas classified as volatile during the by-elections. However, the commission has dismissed Gachagua’s allegations, stating that it has not received any formal complaints about voter bribery or ballot manipulation.

Despite the commission’s denial, Gachagua cautioned the state against attempting to influence the polls, saying Kenyans will resist any effort to impose unwanted leaders. He argued that the government had allegedly resorted to “desperate measures” after sensing defeat in the upcoming vote.

Gachagua asked residents to be vigilant, encouraging them to remain close to the polling stations after voting in order to keenly monitor the process.

“I want to urge all residents of Mbeere North to proceed to the tallying centre once voting is over so as to protect our votes,” he said.

Gachagua also instructed his agents in Mbeere North not to allow voting to begin until all individuals inside the polling stations had been frisked for firearms, insisting that only uniformed police officers should be permitted to carry weapons within the voting areas.

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