By Elijah Odanga
The United Opposition has issued a scathing statement accusing the current regime of orchestrating a widespread and coordinated effort to rig the forthcoming November 27, 2025 by-elections, asserting that the government’s desperate actions are a direct response to a nation “clearly hungry for change.” The coalition expressed gratitude to its supporters across the country for turning out in large numbers for peaceful campaigns, which it says are a chance for Kenyans to register their dissatisfaction with the current leadership. The message of change, encapsulated by the hashtag #WANTAM, is reportedly echoing from the mountain regions to the lake, and from the coast to Kisii, signaling a popular will the regime is allegedly trying to subvert.
The statement details a series of alleged attempts to undermine the vote, beginning with what the Opposition terms the heavy and intimidating deployment of police officers, many in plainclothes, accompanied by brutal attacks on their leaders and supporters in areas like Narok Town, Malava, and Mbeere North. They claim the intention is to scare away voters, pointing to unmarked vehicles, allegedly Subaru Foresters, seen roaming Siakago and Malava, not to protect citizens, but to intimidate them—an action they deem unacceptable in a democratic nation. Furthermore, the Opposition lambasts the “shameless bribery and manipulation of voters” by senior state officers, including the President, Deputy President, Prime Cabinet Secretary, Cabinet Secretaries, and other officials. They accuse the regime of misusing state machinery, including government vehicles, relief food and non-food items intended for disaster victims, and even public issuance of appointment letters to Kenyan embassies, calling it an abuse of public trust and office.
The coalition raised serious concerns about the integrity of the ballot process itself, citing credible information that the serialization of 820,000 printed ballots was not correctly inspected, creating a “dangerous loophole” for ballot-stuffing using extra or unaccounted-for ballots. More alarmingly, the Opposition claims that 30,000 pre-marked ballots have already been dispatched to targeted battleground areas, specifically Magarini, Malava, and Mbeere North, through compromised presiding officers, a move that “strikes at the heart of electoral integrity.” The statement also points to “extended and illegal campaigns” conducted by regime agents well past the official campaign period, allegedly escorted by police officers and accompanied by hired goons in a deliberate attempt to tilt the playing field.
In a strong accusation, the United Opposition asserts that violence is being prepared as a tool to cripple the by-elections. They allege a coordinated scheme involving sections of the police, hired goons, and compromised IEBC officials, citing an example in Malava where hired goons, reportedly under the command of Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, are expected to spark violence with pangas and rungus while being protected by police, including a special unit from Nairobi, “the infamous Subaru unit.” The planned sequence, the statement claims, is for compromised IEBC officers and clerks to use the resulting chaos to stuff ballots, a pattern they say was also evident during the recent Gen Z protests where police reportedly enabled rather than stopped goons. Finally, the Opposition reiterated its previous concern from November 20 about a plan to misuse mobile phones in polling stations to violate the secrecy of the ballot, noting the weak and insufficient response from the IEBC, whose silence deepens concerns about the institution’s independence and credibility.
Concluding the fiery statement, the United Opposition demanded that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) confront and overcome these challenges in what they call the “first true test of the new Commission,” asserting that a free and fair election must be “anchored on justice.” They urged their supporters to “come out in large numbers,” vote peacefully, remain vigilant, and document every irregularity, calling on their agents to confirm all ballot boxes are empty before voting and not to abandon their stations until polling is concluded. The Opposition also called on the Media, Election Observers, and Civil Society Organizations to maintain “maximum vigilance” and expose every malpractice. The statement closed with a declaration that the “desperation of this regime is obvious to all” and that no amount of public money, police deployment, or intimidation will succeed in silencing the will of the people, urging Kenyans to stand firm, peaceful, and together as they prepare to vote.
