A South Korean election-technology company has found itself at the centre of Kenya’s growing political debate ahead of the 2027 General Election. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that Miru Systems is being positioned to play a role in manipulating the vote, but no publicly available evidence has so far substantiated the rigging claims.
With the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) already in the process of procuring an Integrated Elections Management System, attention is now turning to the company, its international track record and the procurement process.
Highlights
- Rigathi Gachagua has accused the government and IEBC of favouring Miru Systems.
- No public evidence has been presented to substantiate the rigging allegations.
- Miru Systems is a South Korean election-technology company founded in 1999.
- IEBC advertised an international tender for an Integrated Elections Management System in August 2026.
- The procurement process is already facing a legal challenge.
Main Story
Why Miru Systems Is Under the Spotlight
Kenya’s 2027 election preparations have entered a politically sensitive phase, with election technology emerging as one of the latest areas of controversy.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto’s administration and the IEBC of favouring Miru Systems in the procurement of technology for the next General Election.
Gachagua has claimed that tender requirements were designed in a way that would give the South Korean company an advantage.
He has also alleged that key government and electoral officials are connected to the process.
However, these remain allegations. No supporting evidence has been publicly produced to establish that the election technology procurement has been designed to rig the 2027 election or that Miru has already been selected.
Who Is Miru Systems?
Miru Systems Co. Ltd is a privately owned South Korean technology company that was established in 1999.
The company is headquartered in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, while its research and manufacturing operations are based in Anyang.
Miru specialises in technology used throughout different stages of the electoral process and has supplied equipment and systems to electoral bodies in several countries.
What Does the Company Make?
Miru’s technology portfolio covers several aspects of elections.
Its biometric registration equipment can be used to capture fingerprints, facial photographs and iris information, while also scanning identification documents and producing voter cards.
The company also develops ballot-marking equipment and automated counting and tabulation technology designed to process ballots using optical scanning.
Miru says its systems use various encryption and security technologies to protect election data and prevent unauthorised modifications.
That makes the company relevant to Kenya’s upcoming procurement because the system eventually selected could play a role in voter registration, ballot processing and result management.
Who Owns Miru Systems?
According to a Reuters investigation published in 2024, Jeong Jin-bok, also known as Jinbok Chung, is Miru’s largest shareholder and serves as its chief executive.
The company is privately held, with its registered headquarters in Seongnam.
Miru’s International Track Record
The company has expanded its operations internationally, winning contracts connected to elections in several countries.
However, its record has also attracted controversy.
Reuters reported that Miru secured contracts worth approximately US$250 million for elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Equipment supplied for the country’s 2023 election later became the subject of complaints, including concerns that voter cards had faded.
In Iraq, concerns surrounding election equipment following the 2018 vote contributed to a partial manual recount.
The company also signed an agreement in August 2025 to provide Zambia’s electoral commission with thousands of biometric voter-registration devices ahead of an election whose results later faced disputes.
Miru also has a history in Kenya, having been linked to a 2012 contract involving ballot-reading and sorting equipment.
None of these cases, by themselves, establishes that Miru would manipulate an election in Kenya. They are part of the company’s international record and explain why its involvement is attracting scrutiny.
The IEBC Tender
The current controversy centres on an IEBC tender advertised on August 11, 2026.
The commission invited bids for an Integrated Elections Management System, covering equipment and accessories as well as installation, testing, commissioning, support and maintenance.
The system is intended to support preparations for the August 2027 General Election.
The deadline for submitting bids was set for September 1, 2026.
Importantly, the tender process has not gone unchallenged.
Galadirel Investment Limited has filed a complaint before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board, raising concerns that include aspects of the tender specifications and the fact that the contract value was not disclosed.
Why the Tender Matters
Election technology is not simply another government procurement.
The systems selected can influence how voters are registered, how ballots are processed and how results are managed.
That means transparency in the procurement process is crucial to public confidence.
For Kenya, where election technology has been a source of political and public controversy in previous polls, questions surrounding the 2027 system are likely to attract intense scrutiny.
Allegations vs Evidence
Gachagua’s claims have placed Miru Systems at the centre of a political storm, but there is an important distinction between an allegation and an established fact.
There is currently no publicly available evidence demonstrating that Miru has been selected to rig the 2027 election.
Likewise, the existence of a procurement dispute does not by itself prove that the tender has been manipulated.
The most significant developments to watch will therefore be the outcome of the procurement review, the eventual bidders and the process through which IEBC evaluates and awards the contract.
What Happens Next?
With the tender process underway and a legal challenge before the procurement review board, the coming weeks could provide greater clarity on Kenya’s election technology plans.
For voters, the key issue is not simply which company wins the contract, but whether the entire process is transparent, competitive and capable of earning public trust.
As Kenya moves closer to the 2027 General Election, scrutiny of the technology behind the vote is likely to intensify.
For now, separating political claims from independently verifiable evidence remains essential.
Kenya’s next election will be decided at the ballot box, but public confidence in the technology behind that ballot will be just as important.
