Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Abdi Jehow has come under heavy fire after making incendiary remarks suggesting that leaders from Kenya’s Northeastern region are ready to rig the 2027 elections in favor of President William Ruto.

Speaking during a public event, Jehow boldly declared: “As Members of Parliament from Northeastern, I speak for Wajir our message is simple: two terms. We’re just waiting for the ballot to arrive. Even if we don’t have the votes, we’ll steal them for him... that’s no secret.”

The statement, which has since gone viral, has provoked a storm of criticism on social media, with many Kenyans expressing alarm over the apparent disregard for electoral integrity.

One user on X (formerly Twitter), @Dukeofsavannah, reacted sharply: “We should start by abolishing the Women Rep position and send all these people home.”

Another, @senmongare, wrote: “Her careless confession that they’ll steal votes for Ruto isn’t boldness; it’s the tragic echo of every tyrant’s apprentice who mistakes rigging for strategy, forgetting that even stolen crowns slip when history reclaims its pen.”

@GithinjiEm48657 added: “Simply said in public, you can only imagine the grand scheme to steal votes... It’s a well-orchestrated plan. Everything will go on well until the last minutes... Eyes will open when it’s already late.”

Jehow’s remarks come at a time of heightened political tension, just days after President Ruto made controversial statements during a tour of a housing project in Nairobi, where he appeared to endorse the use of brutal force against protestors.

“Anyone going to burn people’s property should be shot in the leg, be hospitalized, and later taken to court upon recovery. Do not kill them just break their leg,” the president said.

He added, “Enough is enough,” vowing to crush what he described as “anarchy disguised as peaceful protest.”

These comments have drawn condemnation from civil rights groups, opposition leaders, and a section of the public, who accuse the president of eroding democratic freedoms and stifling dissent.

Jehow’s statements have now amplified concerns over the credibility of Kenya’s next general election and the country’s commitment to the rule of law.

With both statements surfacing amid growing public unrest and state crackdowns, observers warn of a worrying shift in Kenya’s political landscape, where threats to democracy are increasingly being voiced from the top.