The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has slammed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for accusing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah of election malpractice, stressing that immediate action should be taken against him.
In a letter addressed to IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon on Tuesday, November 25, the party's Secretary General Omar Hassan said that Gachagua's allegations are meant to discredit young women in leadership.
According to Omar, who labelled Gachagua's attacks on the IEBC's vice chairperson as 'constitutional red flags' and ‘political tantrums’, the statements are a result of him sensing defeat in the upcoming by-elections in Magarini constituency, Kilifi County, on Thursday, November 27.
Hassan said that the commission, as well as other institutions of governance, should launch a probe to establish what exactly led Gachagua to make such utterances.
The SG noted that Gachagua's letter to the IEBC contravened Article 91 (1) (f) of the Constitution, which requires political parties to respect and promote human rights and gender equality.
"As a key stakeholder in the democratic and governance processes of our Republic, the UDA Party respectfully urges the IEBC to exercise maximum legal reflection when dealing with Mr Gachagua," Omar said.
"His long and well-documented disregard for public order imperatives should neither be underrated nor countenanced. We call upon other institutions of governance in our country to act as prescribed by law and deal with Gachagua's insensate calls to violence every time he senses defeat in a political contest," he added.
The response comes a day after Gachagua wrote a letter to Ethekon alleging that the commission's vice chairperson is attempting to facilitate election malpractice in Magarini during the upcoming by-elections on November 27.
In his letter, Gachagua claimed that Abdalla had unlawfully handed over the names of her preferred presiding officers, whom she wants to oversee elections in the constituency, to senior county officials.
Furthermore, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader claims that the Vice Chairperson also 'bullied, intimidated and coerced' other senior officials, including the returning officers, for them to compromise the elections.
The former DP urged the IEBC chair to kickstart an immediate probe into the conduct of the vice chair to prevent the commission's reputation from suffering more damage.
Gachagua said that the vice chairperson should resign from her position to ensure integrity and transparency, especially in the upcoming 2027 General Elections.
"I am aware that your Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah has assumed the roles of managing the Magarini by-elections through corrupt, covert means; You are well aware that the commissioner assigned to the coast region is one Alutalala Mukhwana," Gachagua said.
"Be informed, should it not be within your knowledge, that on Friday 21 November 2025, your Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah, was in Magarini, where she bullied, intimidated and coerced the electoral official manning the Magarini by-elections," he added.
