President William Ruto has directed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection committee to fast-track the appointment of a new chairperson and commissioners. The instruction comes in the wake of the death of Malava MP Injendi Malulu and amid growing concerns over delayed by-elections in several constituencies.
Call for Expedited Process
Speaking at Malulu’s funeral in Kakamega on Tuesday, March 4, President Ruto stressed the urgency of filling the vacancies in the IEBC. “I have already approved the committee tasked with selecting new IEBC commissioners. I urge them to expedite the process so that we can have a new IEBC in place,” Ruto stated. He added, “The people of Malava deserve the opportunity to elect their representative, and I am ready to assist in ensuring this happens.”
Widespread Impact of Vacancies
The lack of a full IEBC has had significant repercussions, delaying by-elections in at least 14 electoral areas, including seven ward seats left vacant following the deaths of Members of County Assemblies (MCAs). The Constitution mandates that by-elections be held within 90 days of a vacancy, but persistent operational challenges have hindered this process.
Since January 2023, the IEBC has been operating without a complete commission after the departure of former Chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye. Four additional commissioners—Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya, and Irene Masit—were removed following disagreements over the 2022 presidential election results.
Delays in Constituency Review
The IEBC is also facing delays in reviewing constituency boundaries. Under Article 89 of the Constitution, such reviews should occur every eight to twelve years. With the last review completed in 2012, the next was due by February 2024 but has been postponed due to the commission’s incomplete status.
Recent Developments and Future Plans
In January 2025, President Ruto appointed an IEBC selection panel to oversee the recruitment of new commissioners—a process that had been stalled for nearly three years amid political disputes and court cases. The panel began calling for applications in February 2025 through advertisements in print media.
Currently, the IEBC secretariat, led by CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, is limited to routine operations like staff training and procurement of non-strategic materials. However, without a full commission, essential functions such as boundary delimitation and organizing by-elections remain on hold.
As the nation awaits the formation of a complete and functional IEBC, President Ruto’s call for swift action underscores the critical need for a transparent and effective electoral body to restore public confidence and ensure timely electoral processes.
