Former Azimio la Umoja chief agent Saitabao Ole Kanchory has sharply criticised the United Opposition following its Wednesday meeting with officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), warning that the approach taken risks handing President William Ruto an easy victory in the next general election.
In a strongly worded statement reacting to the talks held at IEBC headquarters in Nairobi, Kanchory dismissed the engagement as ineffective, arguing that it projected weakness rather than resolve.
He claimed the meeting would have reassured the President rather than unsettled the electoral body.
Kanchory said meaningful electoral reform cannot be achieved through what he described as “courtesy visits” and tea meetings, insisting that the opposition failed to push for immediate and non-negotiable changes.
He accused opposition leaders of mishandling a critical moment meant to pressure IEBC ahead of the 2027 polls.
At the centre of his criticism was the IEBC Secretariat, which he argued must be overhauled without delay.
According to Kanchory, reforming the commission’s leadership and administrative structure is the minimum threshold for restoring public confidence in elections.
He also faulted the commission’s past reliance on election technology suppliers linked to controversial systems, questioning why Kenya adopted technology associated with Venezuela.
Kanchory called for the procurement of new electoral technology from what he termed “credible democracies,” saying technology credibility is central to election integrity.
Another major concern raised by the former chief agent was the role of Returning Officers.
He claimed partisan officials at constituency level remain a weak link in Kenya’s electoral process and demanded thorough vetting to identify and remove officers perceived to be politically compromised.
Kanchory’s remarks stand in contrast to the tone struck by opposition leaders after the meeting.
The United Opposition, led by figures including Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Fred Matiang’i, described the talks as constructive and said they raised concerns about credibility, voter registration, election technology and recent by-elections.
However, Kanchory warned that without immediate action on reforms, such engagements risk normalising what he termed a flawed system.
He concluded that failure to secure tangible changes would render the opposition ineffective in challenging the government electorally.
The criticism adds to growing debate within opposition ranks over strategy, as pressure mounts on IEBC amid early positioning for the 2027 General Election.