Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sought to dispel concerns surrounding the recent appointments to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) amid accusations from opposition leaders that they may pave the way for electoral manipulation.

Speaking at Full Gospel Church in Magomano, Kiambu County, on Sunday, May 11, 2025, Gachagua confidently referenced a key 2013 Supreme Court ruling that establishes polling station results as the ultimate determinant in the election outcome.

Gachagua asserted that this ruling will be the guiding principle in the upcoming elections, urging Kenyans not to entertain any fears of the vote being rigged in anyone’s favour.

 “Don’t worry about the IEBC,” Gachagua told the congregation. “The Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the polling station result is final. The people at IEBC are there simply to tally and aggregate the numbers, so there’s no cause for concern.”

His comments were aimed at calming fears that the new IEBC appointments could be exploited by President William Ruto to manipulate the upcoming election.

Gachagua made it clear that the final say on any election lies with the votes cast at the polling stations, a principle, he said, that cannot be altered by the composition of the IEBC in any way.

Voter registration

Turning his focus to the upcoming elections, Gachagua stressed the importance of voter registration, particularly urging the younger generation, known as Generation Z, to become actively involved.

He described the youth as the nation’s hope and called on them to register and vote.

“What is important now is that Kenyans, particularly Generation Z, register as voters. You are the future of this country, and I encourage you to go and register to vote, for you are the solution to Kenya’s future.”

Over-taxation

During the service, Gachagua also pledged that the government he and his allies hope to form in 2027 will put an end to what he described as the over-taxation of workers’ payslips.

Gachagua said employees in both the public and private sectors have been subjected to excessive deductions that have significantly reduced their purchasing power.

He emphasised that the first responsibility of the government they plan to establish will be to restore the dignity of the payslip by stopping unnecessary deductions and giving workers the respect they deserve.

“Mambo ya payslip wale wafanyikazi wote ambao wako hapa private sector public sector payslip yao imekuwa raided, their purchasing power has been eroded, na ndio tunasema serikali tunayo taka kuunda our first responsibility is to restore the dignity of the payslip hao wafanyikazi wapate heshima yao by not raiding their payslip,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua is expected to officially launch his political party later this month.

The second deputy president also disclosed that his political party would stand as the region’s signature force, akin to Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

“Our party is ready. It is in the showroom, the engine is brand new, the tyres are Michelin, and the driver is Gachagua—he won’t steer it off course. People are eager to know the name. The fifth month (May) is when we will make the big reveal,” he announced during an interview on Sunday, February 9, 2025.

“We will begin opening branches, transitioning people from UDA, and firmly rooting them in our new home. We want all other communities to join us—we are offering them seats at the table. We have already allocated positions to some, and for those yet to be accommodated, this is their chance to come on board.”