Hello

Your subscription is almost coming to an end. Don’t miss out on the great content on Nation.Africa

Ready to continue your informative journey with us?

Hello

Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.Africa is still within reach. Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

Reclaim your full access. Click below to renew.

Subscribe for a month to get full access

Premium

New constituencies in time for polls ‘unlikely’

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula (right) with Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’a during the mid-term retreat for MPs in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on Tuesday. 

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi| Nation Media Group

By  Eric Matara  &  Joseph Openda

The delayed reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) may make it more difficult to create new constituencies ahead of the 2027 General Election.

This emerged on Wednesday during the ongoing mid-term retreat for members of Parliament in Naivasha. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula expressed fears that the boundary delimitation process may be the biggest casualty of the delayed reconstitution of IEBC.

The review of constituency boundaries was last done in 2012, leading to the creation of 290 constituencies up from 210.

Related

“The delay in the reconstitution of IEBC has stalled crucial activities, including boundary delimitation, which is vital for the country’s electoral system, as well as the timely conducting of by-elections in constituencies and wards that have experienced vacancies,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

“It may also make it impossible to create additional constituencies to the existing 290 ahead of 2027.”

Mr Wetang'ula urged MPs to support IEBC in carrying out its tasks once the new commissioners assume office.

The law states that IEBC shall review the names and boundaries of constituencies at intervals of not less than eight years, and not more than 12 years, but any review shall be completed at least 12 months before a General Election.

IEBC selection panel

The Speaker called on the IEBC selection panel to expedite the nomination and appointment of commissioners.

“It is imperative that the IEBC selection panel speedily reconstitutes the commission to allow the people of Kenya to have full representation in Parliament and in their ward,” Mr Wetang’ula said.

Also Read: The men and women who will pick next IEBC commissioners

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah echoed Mr Wetang'ula's sentiments, noting widespread disquiet over the delays in reconstituting the IEBC.

He urged the selection panel to act swiftly and transparently to identify individuals of integrity to steering the IEBC.

After the swearing-in of the selection panel, the IEBC could be fully constituted within the next three months.

The absence of IEBC commissioners has sparked widespread public outcry. On social media, many Kenyans have called for the speedy reconstitution of the commission. Opposition leaders, including Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua of Narc Kenya, have been vocal in demanding for the appointment of new commissioners.

Since the term of former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye ended in January 2023, the commission has been run by the secretariat, which has limited legal authority.

The secretariat, led by CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, has been restricted to routine functions, such as staff training and procurement of non-strategic materials.

Last year, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a introduced a Bill in the National Assembly seeking to prevent the scrapping of more than 40 constituencies because they did not meet the population threshold required by the law.