Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to retain the Smartmatic election system ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Gachagua argued that there is not enough time to introduce and properly test a completely new electoral technology with the polls less than a year away.

He said the existing system already has experience with Kenya’s electoral processes and contains important election-related data. According to him, replacing it at this stage could create unnecessary complications.

Gachagua also questioned the need to transfer existing information to a new provider when the current system is already familiar with Kenya’s electoral environment.

The former Deputy President said introducing a new system would require extensive testing and preparation, raising concerns about whether such changes could be completed before the August 2027 election.

He pointed to Malawi, where he said he had personally observed Smartmatic’s technology being used and described the system as satisfactory.

Gachagua’s comments come amid growing political debate over the technology that should be used to manage Kenya’s next election. Different opposition leaders have previously raised concerns about Smartmatic and called on the IEBC to reconsider its involvement.

The former Deputy President, however, has taken a different position by arguing that changing the system so close to the election could be more risky than retaining the existing arrangement.

He called on the IEBC to engage political parties and other stakeholders openly as preparations for the 2027 polls continue.

The debate over electoral technology is expected to remain a major issue as the IEBC moves closer to the next General Election, with political leaders demanding assurances that the voting process will be transparent, secure and credible.

Gachagua maintained that the priority should be ensuring the electoral system is properly prepared and tested rather than making major technological changes shortly before Kenyans head to the ballot.