The United States on Thursday October 24, 2024 issued a warning to Kenya over the uncertainty surrounding the country’s electoral body, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a statement, the US Embassy in Nairobi noted that Kenya’s democracy is at risk without a properly constituted IEBC, less than three years to the 2027 general election.
“IEBC’s ability to support democracy in Kenya is at risk without recruiting commissioners or parliamentary action to provide IEBC funding for voter registration. by-elections and other activities,” the US Embassy stated.
This comes a day after US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman met IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi to discuss areas of mutual collaboration.
The IEBC continues to operate without commissioners following the retirement of chairperson Wafula Chebukati and resignation of most of the other commissioners following the hotly contested 2022 presidential election.
The electoral body is unable to hold any elections as it is currently constituted.
For instance, Banisa Constituency in Mandera County has been without an MP since March 2023 following the passing of its Member of Parliament Hassan Kullow.
IEBC’s functions were hampered in 2023 after three of its commissioners- Abdi Guliye, Boya Molu and Chairman Wafula Chebukati retired.
This left only the CEO, whose mandate is strictly limited to supervising and performing secretariat duties.
Other IEBC commissioners Juliana Cherera (vice chairperson), Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya resigned after the 2022 general elections.
In July 2024, President William Ruto signed the IEBC (Amendment) Bill 2024 into law, marking the beginning of recruiting IEBC commissioners.
The President is expected to publish in a gazette notice the names of individuals selected to sit in a nine-member IEBC selection panel which will include two persons nominated by the Parliamentary Service Commission and three persons nominated by the Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC).
