The United States Embassy in Kenya has raised alarm over the continued absence of commissioners at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), highlighting the urgent need for reform.
The warning comes at a crucial time, with Kenya less than three years away from its next general election cycle.
The Embassy’s statement stated:
“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 gravity of the situation was further emphasized during a high-level meeting between US Ambassador Meg Whitman and IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan at Anniversary Towers, where discussions centered on potential areas of collaboration and mutual concern.
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Current Crisis at IEBC
The electoral body’s operational capacity has been severely compromised following a series of resignations that began after the contentious 2022 presidential election. The situation has created a governance vacuum that has already impacted democratic processes.
A stark example is the Banisa Constituency in Mandera County, which has remained without parliamentary representation since March 2023 following MP Hassan Kullow’s death.
The leadership crisis deepened in 2023 when Chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu completed their terms.
This followed the earlier departures of four commissioners – Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit, and Justus Nyang’aya – who resigned in the aftermath of the 2022 elections. Currently, only the CEO remains.
