Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua firmly asserts that no Ugandan or Somali national will influence Kenya’s 2027 General Election. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on mobilizing eligible Kenyan voters, dismissing any notions that foreigners might participate in the election.
During a recent engagement with clergy in Boston, USA, on October 4, 2026, Gachagua addressed claims made by some political figures about seeking votes from foreign nationals. He confidently stated, “No foreigner will vote in Kenya.”
He expressed his commitment to rely solely on verified Kenyan voters, reinforcing that there will be no Ugandan or Somali votes in the upcoming election. “I assure you, we will mobilize our voters who know each other. No dead individuals will cast a vote either,” he added.
Gachagua’s comments arise amid concerns about an alleged scheme to register Ugandan nationals as Kenyan voters, which has sparked debates regarding the integrity of the voters’ register ahead of the polls. An investigation revealed that some Ugandan nationals might be acquiring Kenyan identity documents to register as voters, particularly near the Kenya-Uganda border. However, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has strongly refuted these claims, stating that they lack credible evidence of illegal voter registration.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon affirmed that the commission’s role is to register eligible Kenyan citizens with valid identification. This issue is especially sensitive in border counties where Kenyan and Ugandan communities share deep social and familial ties.
Earlier in 2026, Busia County Commissioner Stephen Orinde reassured residents that Ugandan nationals would not be registered as Kenyan voters, while noting that Ugandan women married to Kenyan citizens could obtain Kenyan identity documents through legal channels.
The discourse surrounding Somali voters has also gained traction, particularly after the government lifted the vetting requirement for residents of northern Kenya seeking national identity documents. While some leaders view this change as a step toward rectifying historical challenges, it has fueled fears that foreigners from Somalia could be registered to vote.
A previous claim about the government intending to create millions of Somali voters was debunked as a false graphic. Nonetheless, the controversy has highlighted ongoing concerns about citizenship and voter registration in Kenya’s border regions.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has encouraged eligible residents to secure national identity cards, emphasizing that the government has removed previous barriers to identification. He views voter registration as a vital opportunity for citizens to exercise their democratic rights.
