Kalonzo accused Marjan of renewing the Smartmatic deal without the approval of commissioners. He claimed the contract was extended illegally while the commission was inactive, raising questions about transparency.
He further said the new commissioners were unaware of the renewal, making the move irregular. Kalonzo insisted that Marjan should not oversee future elections due to the controversy.
“Marjan cannot supervise the next election as CEO. He should be relieved of his duties and allowed to collect any remaining benefits,” Kalonzo said. He argued that Marjan’s actions compromised the integrity of IEBC operations.
The Smartmatic contract has reignited debates ahead of the 2027 elections. Opposition leaders, including Eugene Wamalwa, have called for the cancellation of the deal. They argue the contract was renewed without proper oversight and raise concerns over past electoral irregularities.
Controversy deepened following claims from former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal. In a December 2025 letter to former US President Donald Trump, Carvajal claimed Smartmatic had been used to manipulate elections under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. He suggested the technology could be altered to influence results.
Smartmatic has denied all allegations, stating it follows strict international standards and operates independently. The company ceased operations in Venezuela in 2017 and is now registered in the Netherlands with headquarters in the UK.
In Kenya, Smartmatic won the contract through a public tender in 2021. IEBC maintains the system met legal requirements and delivered efficiently in the 2022 elections. Nevertheless, public trust remains low due to Supreme Court challenges of the previous election.
Senior Counsel Paul Muite has questioned IEBC’s decision to work with Smartmatic, citing links to Venezuela. He has called for lifestyle audits of commissioners past and present. The debate over Smartmatic continues to divide political leaders and the public alike.
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