President William Ruto’s Senior Economic Advisor, Moses Kuria, has doubled down on his controversial assertion that Kenya will not hold a general election in 2027.
His statement has drawn criticism from political leaders, including Wiper Party boss Kalonzo Musyoka, who dismissed it Monday.
Speaking via a statement shared on social media, Kuria cited
the Krigler Report and the current legal stalemate over the appointment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners as
indicators that the country may not be prepared to hold credible polls in 2027.
“In another 39 days, we will start the 24-month countdown to the 2027 elections,” Kuria noted.
“Going by our litigious nature, this case will go all the way to the Supreme Court. It may go on till September 2027.”
He was referring to the ongoing court case that has blocked the swearing-in of IEBC commissioners, despite Parliament having been allowed to vet and approve the nominees.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi recently ruled that while the vetting process may proceed, the actual swearing-in of the officials must remain on hold pending the resolution of a legal petition challenging the recruitment process.
Kuria emphasised that, according to the Krigler Report — formally known as the Report of the Independent Review Commission (IREC) on the 2007 elections — no free and fair elections can be conducted without a fully functional and independent electoral commission at least two years ahead of the polls.
In a pointed response to Kalonzo, who had questioned Kuria’s earlier remarks, the former Gatundu South MP stated:
“I am not a Senior Counsel. I am not a lawyer. Kalonzo Musyoka is. He knows there is not going to be an election in 2027. The only difference is that I am honest and he is not.”
Kuria also suggested that in the absence of an election, the current administration would continue in office beyond 2027 — a claim likely to stir further political debate and constitutional scrutiny.
The Krigler Report, commissioned in the aftermath of Kenya’s
violent 2007 presidential election, uncovered deep flaws in the country's
electoral processes, including a lack of independence and capacity within the
then Electoral Commission of Kenya.
The IEBC, disbanded in its previous form following the 2022 elections, has yet to be fully reconstituted, and the legal wrangling over the current recruitment process has cast doubt on its operational readiness ahead of the next general election.
