The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has petitioned the IEBC, accusing Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah of interfering in the Magarini by-election set for November 27, 2025.
In a letter to Chair Erastus Edung Ethekon, DCP claims she has acted with impunity and jeopardised the credibility of the poll.
The party insists that the by-election itself was occasioned by electoral malpractices by IEBC in the year 2022, warning that any new controversy could deepen public mistrust.
DCP, through its party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, claims it is “within my knowledge that the IEBC has a deliberate policy not to deploy commissioners from the regions where they come from,” but alleges that this policy has been violated by the vice chair.
DCP asserts that Abdallah “has assumed the roles of managing the Magarini by-elections through corrupt, covert means,” despite the coast region having its assigned commissioner, Alutalala Mukhwana.
The letter alleges that on Friday, November 21, 2025, the vice chair was physically in Magarini, where she “bullied, intimidated and coerced the electoral officials manning the Magarini by-elections.”
According to the party, she demanded the full list and contacts of all the officers presiding over the by-elections.
The allegations intensify with claims of a meeting held later that evening at a Boutique Hotel in Malindi, allegedly attended by Abdallah, Mukhwana and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro.
DCP claims “a bribery negotiation was carried out and a figure we shall disclose was agreed upon.”
The party further states that the exchange was meant to secure “the list and names of all the presiding officers and instructions thereto to help Governor Gideon Mung’aro bungle the elections in favour of his preferred candidate.”
The party alleges that the vice chair committed to hand in the list of all the officers and their contacts once Governor Mung’aro puts in a deposit of the agreed-upon bribe.
It adds that all officers were subsequently “instructed by your vice chairperson to closely work with Governor Mung’aro and give him the full support he so needs for the by-elections,” claiming the officials were “cornered and intimidated.”
DCP further claims Abdallah spent two nights at the hotel, asserting that “details which you can confirm from the hotel booking list and the CCTV footage.”
On Saturday, November 22, the party alleges that Governor Mung’aro handed in the bribe deposit and that the vice chair then handed in the list and contact details of the presiding officers and a full command of the electoral process to his favour.
Calling the conduct shocking and utterly unbelievable, the party warns that the actions cast doubt on IEBC’s impartiality ahead of the 2027 General Election, stating, “This casts every doubt of your 2027 conduct.”
On behalf of Magarini candidate Stanley Karisa Kenga, DCP is demanding that all presiding officers be replaced immediately.
The party also demands that the chair to restrain and restrict his rogue vice chairperson, protect officials from harassment and intimidation, and initiate a thorough investigation culminating in the vice chair immediately stepping down.
DCP warns that Kenya’s 2027 election will be an emotive election, urging the chair to earn the trust of the people of Kenya.
As the country prepares for Nthe ovember by-elections and the 2027 General elections, the DCP party calls for peaceful, free and fair elections in all the counties.
