Fatuma Abdi Jehow, the Woman Representative for Wajir, has caused widespread anger after boldly admitting in public that leaders from the North Eastern region are ready to rig the 2027 election for President William Ruto.
Her words have shocked many Kenyans who believe in democracy and fair elections.
During a public event in Wajir on Saturday, July 12, 2025, Jehow openly said that even if the region does not have enough votes, they will still steal the election in Ruto’s favor.
Her exact words were, “Sisi wabunge wa North Eastern maneno ya President, tunasema ‘tutam’, hata kama hatutakua na votes tutamwibia… hio si siri.”
Translated, this means, “We MPs from North Eastern support the President. Even if we don’t have the votes, we will steal them for him… that’s no secret.”
These remarks were not only careless but also dangerous. They came at a time when many Kenyans are already worried about whether future elections will be free and fair.
Jehow’s comments give the impression that some leaders have no respect for the law or the will of the people. Instead of promoting unity or encouraging voters to participate in the democratic process, she is telling the country that elections do not matter because decisions will be made through cheating.
Her follow-up statement, where she said, “Sisi tunangoja debe iletwe, hata kama hatutakuwa na votes, sisi maneyetu ni mafupi,” only made things worse. It was a clear signal that some leaders are ready to break the rules just to stay in power.
Her words have led to strong reactions online. Many Kenyans are calling for her to be investigated or even removed from office. Civil society groups have asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to take her statements seriously and act.
They want the IEBC to prove that it will not be used by politicians who think they can rig elections without facing consequences. Her open bragging about election fraud is not just reckless, it also adds fuel to the already burning concerns about political honesty in the country.
Ironically, on the same day, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was in Migori, defending the IEBC and saying the 2027 elections will be clean.
He accused the opposition of spreading lies because they are scared. But Jehow’s own words tell a very different story.
While Kindiki says they don’t need favors and will win based on performance, Jehow is busy telling the public that rigging is already planned. Her remarks have weakened any trust citizens might have in the current leadership’s commitment to democracy.
Kenya cannot afford such dangerous talk. Leaders like Jehow should be held responsible for any comments that threaten the country’s electoral process. What she said is not just about one region or one party it affects the whole nation and the future of its democracy.
