Gachagua accuses IEBC of using plainclothes police to stuff ballot papers
By Mabonga Makhanu, November 26, 2025Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of using plainclothes police officers to stuff ballot papers in favour of candidates aligned with the state.
Speaking in Nairobi at Kalonzo Musyoka’s (SKM) command centre on the eve of the by-elections, Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the former DP expressed disappointment, saying this is the first time plainclothes police officers are being allowed access to polling areas with the aim of facilitating a ballot-stuffing syndicate.
He stated that the electoral commission has distributed ballot papers to several government agencies, and it is their responsibility to mark them. During voting, the plainclothes officers, according to Gachagua, are tasked with inserting these pre-marked papers into the ballot boxes.
Gachagua further stated that in Mbeere North, 15,000 pre-marked papers have already been distributed a few kilometres from Embu Town. He said the plainclothes officers have been instructed to act as observers, some as agents, and some as security enforcers, but their primary duty, according to Gachagua, is to stuff ballot papers into the boxes.
“For the first time in the electoral history of Kenya, IBC has confirmed that they will be using uniformed officers and plainclothes officers. Those plainclothes officers are a tool for ballot staffing. IEBC has given ballot papers to government agencies that have been pre-marked, and the officers in civilian,” Gachagua stated.
He urged IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, who has been deployed by the commission to oversee the exercise in Mbeere North, not to allow this to happen.
These claims come a day after IEBC Commissioner Mukhwana Alutalala stated that in areas where by-elections are considered volatile, both plainclothes and uniformed officers will be deployed.
The commission has refuted these allegations of voter bribery and ballot manipulation, stating that it has yet to receive any complaints regarding such incidents.
Message to Kenyans
He went ahead to warn the state of their scheme, saying that Kenyans will not be forced to elect leaders they don’t want. He added that after the state sensed defeat in the upcoming polls, they decided to resort to desperate measures such as voter stuffing.
Gachagua urged Kenyans to be vigilant while voting is taking place, advising them not to go home after voting but to stay around and spot such syndicates.