A fresh political controversy has emerged over the credibility of Kenya’s 2027 General Election after United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar raised concerns about possible manipulation of the electoral process.
Omar’s remarks were highlighted by The Standard in its Tuesday, September 15, 2026 edition, it examined a series of statements by allies of President William Ruto that have intensified debate about the conduct of the next election.
According to the publication, Omar claimed that deceased people could potentially participate in the 2027 election, raising concerns about the integrity of the voters’ register and the management of the electoral process.
“We will harvest fingerprints of individuals who die close to the election day before they are buried and use them on the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits to secure victory,” Omar was quoted as saying.
The remarks have added to wider concerns over the preparedness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the closely watched 2027 contest.
The Standard also linked Omar’s comments to previous remarks by former Cabinet Secretary and political figure Fatuma Abdi, who was quoted discussing the possibility of North Eastern leaders influencing voting patterns in favour of President Ruto.
The newspaper further highlighted comments attributed to former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, UDA-linked figures and Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi as part of a series of statements that have sparked political debate.
Sudi, according to the publication, maintained that the government would not leave anything to chance in its pursuit of victory, saying that if the ballots were not enough, other means would be considered to secure sufficient support.
“If the ballots are not enough, we will ensure that they are enough, whatever may come,” Sudi was quoted as saying.
The remarks have renewed scrutiny of the language being used by politicians as parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential and parliamentary contests.
The Standard reported that the statements have heightened fears about the credibility of the forthcoming polls and contributed to concerns over public confidence in institutions responsible for conducting and overseeing elections.
The IEBC is expected to play a central role in addressing such concerns through voter registration, verification of the electoral register, deployment of biometric technology and other safeguards designed to prevent electoral malpractice.
With the 2027 election approaching, political rhetoric surrounding the polls is likely to remain a major issue, particularly as rival camps seek to consolidate their support bases and challenge each other’s electoral strategies.