The United Opposition has accused the government of attempting to subvert the November 27, 2025, by-elections, citing alleged voter intimidation, ballot manipulation, and misuse of state resources.
In a statement read by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Wednesday, the coalition warned that the ruling regime was employing multiple strategies to frustrate the people’s will.
“Kenyans are clearly hungry for change, and they see these by-elections as a chance to register their feelings about the current regime. That dissatisfaction is real, and the regime knows it,” the statement said.
The opposition outlined six key areas of concern citing the heavy deployment of police officers, including plainclothes personnel, allegedly used to intimidate opposition leaders and voters.
Incidents were reported in Narok Town, Malava, and Mbeere North, with unmarked vehicles patrolling towns not to protect citizens, but, according to the coalition, to instill fear.
The outfit also accused senior state officials, including Members of Parliament, County Assembly officials and chiefs of bribing voters with government resources.
These included relief food, mattresses, blankets, government vehicles, and even letters of appointment to Kenyan embassies issued publicly.
The opposition said such actions represented a misuse of public trust.
Kalonzo raised concerns over the printing and serialisation of 820,000 ballots, claiming that 30,000 pre-marked ballots had been dispatched to key areas like Magarini, Malava, and Mbeere North, creating opportunities for electoral fraud.
The opposition also criticised extended campaigns by regime agents beyond the official period, often escorted by police and accompanied by hired goons, alleging this was intended to tilt the playing field.
They further warned of planned election-day violence, claiming that hired gangs, allegedly under the direction of MPs, would disrupt polling in some areas, with police allegedly providing protection.
Such chaos, the coalition said, could be exploited by compromised officials to manipulate results.
The Opposition also flagged the misuse of mobile phones inside polling stations as a threat to ballot secrecy, condemning the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for what it described as a weak response to these concerns.
“A democratic, free, and fair election cannot be built on silence, evasion, or selective action,” the statement said.
The opposition called on IEBC to confront these challenges and uphold electoral integrity, warning that failure would erode public trust in the commission.
It urged supporters to remain peaceful, vigilant, and report any irregularities while encouraging media, election observers, and civil society groups to monitor all polling stations closely.
“The desperation of this regime is obvious to all… No amount of public money, police deployment, bullets, or tear gas will succeed in silencing the will of the people,” the statement concluded.
The coalition called on Kenyans to vote courageously and safeguard the electoral process.
