President Ruto Urges Swift Appointment of New IEBC Commissioners Amid Election Delays
President William Ruto has called for the expedited appointment of new commissioners to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), emphasizing the urgent need to fill vacant electoral seats across the country.
Speaking during an event, Ruto confirmed that he had already approved the selection committee tasked with recruiting new IEBC commissioners and urged all involved parties to speed up the process.
“I already approved the committee that is seeking new IEBC commissioners. I urge those involved to expedite the process so that we can have a new IEBC in place,” Ruto said.
The president specifically pointed to Malava Constituency, which has been left without a Member of Parliament, stating that residents deserve proper representation.
“The people of Malava deserve the opportunity to elect their representative, and I am ready to assist in making sure this happens.”
IEBC Delay Leaves Regions Without Representation
Malava Constituency is among several electoral areas currently without representation in legislative bodies due to the stalled IEBC appointments. At least 14 electoral regions—including seven wards—require by-elections following the deaths of Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and the vacancy of parliamentary seats.
The Kenyan Constitution mandates that by-elections be held within 90 days of a vacancy arising. However, the lack of a fully constituted IEBC has stalled this process.
IEBC Leadership Vacuum
The IEBC has remained without commissioners since the exit of former Chairman, the late Wafula Chebukati, and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye, whose tenures ended in January 2023.
Additionally, four other commissioners—Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya, and Irene Masit—were ousted following their opposition to the 2022 presidential election results.
The prolonged IEBC leadership vacuum has also affected the constitutionally mandated boundary review process. According to Article 89 of the Constitution, the IEBC is required to review constituency and ward boundaries every eight to twelve years. The last review occurred in 2012, meaning the next review was due by February 2024. However, the commission’s dysfunction has delayed this critical exercise.
With increasing pressure from political leaders and the public, the urgency to restore a fully operational electoral body remains a top priority for the government.
