Plot to derail next year’s General Election? Fresh controversy as goons menace worsens

A recent warning by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Erastus Ethekon that next year’s General Election might not take place as scheduled if the rising goons menace and claims by Opposition politicians that it is President William Ruto’s strategy has heightened tensions with less than two years left to the polls.

“I would like to state clearly that IEBC cannot hold elections in a toxic environment. IEBC cannot hold elections in an environment that’s full of incitement, division, violence, chaos and anarchy. We need a conducive environment for us to hold a peaceful, free, fair and credible election for the people of the Republic of Kenya.” Ethekon said speaking on August 3, 2026.

Despite his stern warning, goon attacks targeting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who is also the DCP Party leader and the Linda Mwananchi movement in places such as Nyeri, Murang’a, Nakuru, Kisii and Homa Bay have continued unabated with the government appearing unwilling or unable to contain the menace.

Before last month’s mini-poll in Ol Kalou, Ethekon had also warned of such an eventuality.

“In the event that, working with the security officials and other stakeholders, we find that the environment is not conducive enough for us to conclude the by-election in Ol Kalou, we will be left with no choice other than to take the most unfortunate and drastic step of postponing the elections in Ol Kalou. And if that’s not enough, we will cancel it altogether,” he said during  in Nairobi during the launch of the 2022 Pre-Election Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) Report and Case Digest .

Though the exercise went ahead, violence erupted when hooded goons, who were armed with guns and tear gas canisters, descended on the constituency and unleashed unprecedented violence on the locals, including at polling stations.

With the government slow to take action on this and past goon attacks, the trend has continued unabated amid claims the goons, including those who attacked Linda Mwananchi leaders in Homa Bay last Sunday, enjoy the support and protection of influential pro-government politicians and officials.

It has led to claims by opposition leaders such as Gachagua and Siaya Governor James Orengo that the goons menace is part of a wider scheme by President William Ruto to postpone the August 10 General Election in which he will be fighting to retain office amid fierce opposition.

According to Gachagua, the violence in Homa Bay was orchestrated by a gang known as “Hammers Boys” with the backing of police officers from outside the area, including those from Nairobi.

He claimed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is under instructions to create conditions that would allow the 2027 elections to be postponed by two years under a state of emergency.

“They are setting the stage to postpone the election and declare a state of emergency for two years,” Gachagua said at his Wamunyoro home when a delegation from the Ukambani region visited him.

Similar claims have been made by Orengo, who on Tuesday, said:  President Ruto is trying to prepare us for the postponement of an election. That will not happen.”

According to lawyer Steve Biko says under the 2010 Constitution, the IEBC can on conduct a postponed election at the earliest opportunity but cannot cancel it altogether.

“Article 142 provides that a President’s term ends when the person next elected President under Article 136 is sworn in. That provision cannot reasonably be converted into a constitutional loophole where elections are deliberately frustrated and the incumbent consequently remains in office indefinitely. Article 136 requires the election in the first place,” Biko said in a post on social media.

“Article 101 provides that the general election of Members of Parliament shall be held on the second Tuesday in August in every fifth year. Article 136 imposes the same constitutional timetable for the presidential election. In 2027, that constitutional date falls on Tuesday, 10 August 2027. Neither the President, IEBC, Parliament nor any other State officer can simply wake up and decide that Kenyans will not exercise that sovereign power because the political environment is “toxic.”

On Thursday this week, IEBC Chairman warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against campaigning outside the legally prescribed period for the 2027 General Election adding that the official campaign period will begin once candidates are registered by the Commission, but not earlier than May 29, 2027. Campaigns will end on August 7, 2027, 48 hours before Election Day.

Further, the electoral body warned that public officers seeking to contest for political positions have until February 10, 2027 to resign from office.