Former Deputy President and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua has raised questions over the procurement of election technology ahead of the August 2027 General Election, alleging that the tender process may have been designed to favour South Korean firm Miru Systems.

Gachagua also accused the government of frustrating small-scale traders in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector, linking the alleged crackdown to commercial interests.

Speaking on Wednesday, Gachagua claimed Parliament had failed to enact key legislation governing the use of technology in elections, despite a Bill having already been approved by the Senate.

“Kenyans should also be made aware that Ruto’s captured Parliament has failed to pass election Bills on technology,” he said.

“The Senate passed the Bill, but it is pending in the National Assembly. We all know why.”

He further alleged that the outcome of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) technology procurement process had already been determined in favour of Miru Systems.

“Kenyans do not know the tender process and result has already been preconceived to a South Korean company,” Gachagua claimed.

He accused unnamed senior IEBC officials of interference in the process and alleged that government officials had met representatives of the company over access to voter information. The claims were not independently verified.

Gachagua challenged IEBC to publicly explain the tender requirements and demonstrate that the specifications had not been written around a particular supplier.

“I challenge IEBC to confirm if technical specifications in the tender have not been tailored around Miru,” he said.

“What market analysis did IEBC undertake? How many suppliers were identified as capable without requiring exceptions?”

He also questioned why the tender allegedly required a Sh30 million tender security without indicating the estimated value of the contract.

“How come and why does the tender document require IEBC to specify standards later? Why did IEBC require tender security of Sh30 million without details on the estimated tender value?” he asked.

Gachagua cited alleged problems involving Miru technology in previous elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines and Iraq as grounds for greater scrutiny of the procurement.

He claimed the company delivered election kits late in the DRC in 2018 and alleged that equipment experienced significant malfunctions during subsequent elections. He also cited concerns raised during a mock election in the Philippines and alleged equipment failures in Iraq.

The allegations would require verification against official election observer reports and responses from Miru Systems.

Gachagua also turned his attention to the LPG sector, accusing authorities of unfairly targeting small traders.

“The small trader in the cooking gas industry who was supposed to be moved from the bottom upwards has now been moved to a bottomless pit,” he said.

He alleged that about 200,000 gas cylinders were confiscated in June 2025 by officers operating from what he described as a “black site” in Hurlingham, Nairobi.

According to Gachagua, LPG retailers wrote to President William Ruto in August 2025 and again in April 2026 seeking intervention.

He further alleged that some of the confiscated cylinders were channelled to emerging LPG companies, although he did not provide evidence in the remarks to substantiate the claim.

Gachagua said more than 500,000 traders were demanding the closure of the alleged Hurlingham facility, the return of confiscated cylinders and compensation for affected businesses.

He also called for investigations into the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and demanded legal action against Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and officers he accused of being involved in the operation.

“The LPG harassment has more than meets the eye,” Gachagua said, before alleging that President Ruto had commercial interests connected to the sector.

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