By Joshua Otieno | April 5, 2026
Gospel musician and 2027 presidential hopeful Reuben Kigame has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Kenya Kwanza administration of manipulating the voter register ahead of the next General Election.
In a statement issued on April 5, 2026, Kigame alleged that ongoing voter registration processes are being used to disenfranchise certain citizens, terming the move as “advance rigging.”
He based his claims on a personal experience, stating that despite consistently voting at the same polling station over three election cycles, his wife’s details could no longer be found in the official register while his remained intact. Kigame said the discrepancy raised serious concerns about the credibility of the voter database.
The presidential aspirant warned that such irregularities point to a broader scheme that could compromise the integrity of the 2027 elections. He described the situation as a dangerous trend that risks undermining public trust in the electoral process.
His remarks come amid growing criticism of the IEBC’s ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise, which the Commission says is aimed at updating and cleaning the voter register through biometric verification and data migration.
Kigame’s claims add to similar concerns raised by opposition figures, including Jimi Wanjigi, who have questioned the necessity and transparency of the current voter registration directives.
The IEBC has maintained that the exercise is necessary to ensure an accurate and credible Register of Voters ahead of the 2027 General Election. However, Kigame’s allegations are likely to intensify scrutiny of the process.
As of now, both the government and the IEBC have yet to issue an official response addressing the specific claims raised by Kigame regarding alleged voter deletion.
