Opposition Leaders Raise Concerns Over Rigging Plot Ahead of Thursday’s By-Elections

Kenya, 26 November 2025 - Tensions have intensified ahead of Thursday’s by-elections after the United Opposition Alliance accused the government of engineering a plan to manipulate the vote.

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the alliance had received reports of ballot papers allegedly printed in favour of government-aligned candidates, warning that gaps in the verification process had created room for abuse.

“The serialisation of 820,000 ballot papers was not properly done or inspected,” he said.

“This leaves the door wide open for ballot stuffing through extra or unaccounted-for papers.”

Kalonzo further claimed that around 30,000 pre-marked ballots had already been moved to Magarini, Malava, and Mbeere North using what he described as compromised polling officials. He also criticised state officers for taking part in campaigns and deploying public resources to support specific candidates, calling it a breach of the Constitution.

Former Deputy President and DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua echoed the allegations, urging the electoral agency to act firmly to protect the integrity of the polls. He alleged that groups had been mobilised to cause confusion at polling centres as a cover for inserting pre-marked ballots.

“In Mbeere North, the plan is to create chaos outside police stations so that officers inside can join the confusion, posing as agents and sneaking in pre-marked ballots,” he claimed.

Gachagua said 15,000 pre-marked papers had allegedly been directed to Mbeere North and another 10,000 to Malava.