Wetang’ula Demands Urgent Action as IEBC Crisis Threatens 2027 Election Preparations
Nairobi – National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has raised alarm over the stalled reconstitution of Kenya’s electoral commission, warning that continued delays could derail preparations for the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a meeting with outgoing Acting U.S. Ambassador Mark Dillard in Nairobi, Wetang’ula said time is slipping away with critical election processes yet to begin. His remarks follow a court order issued May 29 that blocked the swearing-in of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) nominees, pending the outcome of a legal petition challenging their appointment.
“We are running dangerously late in starting preparations for the elections in 2027,” Wetang’ula said. “We are late on the review and delimitation of boundaries for constituencies and wards. We are late in enlisting voters.”
Wetang’ula noted that many young Kenyans who have come of age remain unregistered and must be added to the voter roll before the constitutionally imposed deadline kicks in. He stressed that the commission must also update the register to remove deceased voters, a process that requires time and functional leadership.
“Keeping eligible voters out is wrong. Keeping dead people on the register is worse,” he said.
The Speaker confirmed that Parliament had completed its vetting of the IEBC nominees after receiving the names from President William Ruto. The list includes Erastus Edung Ethekon as chairperson and Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla as commissioners. Although their appointments were published in the Kenya Gazette, the legal injunction has kept them from taking office.
“The selection panel finished its work. We vetted and approved the nominees. They have been gazetted,” Wetang’ula stated. “But they haven’t been sworn in, and the clock is ticking.”
The High Court’s conservatory order has left the IEBC without leadership, halting all preparatory work for the next election. Wetang’ula acknowledged that the public’s trust in the commission remains low but insisted that a fully operational and well-trained team can still deliver a credible vote.
“A strong commission can withstand many odds,” he said. “Complaints will come, but a credible process will stand up to scrutiny in the Supreme Court.”
The lack of progress in voter registration and boundary reviews, compounded by the ongoing court battles, has intensified pressure on state institutions to resolve the legal impasse. Wetang’ula’s statement adds to growing calls for immediate action to prevent a repeat of past election management failures.
No official timeline has been provided for the court’s ruling on the pending petition. Until then, the commission remains in limbo, with preparations for the 2027 elections at a standstill.
