National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has told Kenya’s newly reconstituted electoral commission to urgently restore public confidence, warning that failure to do so could plunge the country into another disputed general election. Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, Speaker Wetang’ula asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct its work with integrity, fairness, and independence, calling public trust in the institution “a cornerstone for political stability.”
“Kenyans expect nothing less than impartiality, integrity, and strict adherence to the constitutional mandate,” Wetang’ula said. “Do not act on behalf of communities or political interests. You are the electoral commission of the Republic of Kenya.”
The new IEBC team, which took office two weeks ago, met with parliamentary leaders for the first time since being sworn in. The commission is expected to oversee the 2027 general election and carry out critical electoral reforms within tight timelines.
Speaker Wetang’ula reminded the commissioners that the stakes are high, and time is already short.
“You have no room for excuses. Parliament will not interfere with your work, but we will appropriate funds and provide oversight. You are independent so act like it,” Wetangula said.
The IEBC faces a long to-do list, including the delayed boundary review, a clean-up of the voter register, and several pending by-elections. The electoral body also aims to register six million new voters before 2027 most of them young people.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo said public legitimacy could not be forced by law but must be earned through action.
“The biggest challenge is not voting it is the tallying and transmission of results. That’s where confidence breaks down,” MP Amollo said.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari warned that the commission starts off with “a deficit of trust” and must prove its fairness. Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma stressed the need to verify the voter register early, unlike the 2022 election, where the update was done close to the vote.
Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse urged the IEBC to address stalled by-elections, citing the Banisa Constituency, which has had no MP since 2023. “We expect a clear plan for these polls. Kenyans can’t be left unrepresented for this long,” MP Mwengi said.
Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi also raised concern over the cost of elections. The IEBC has requested Ksh 64 billion for the 2027 general election and other pending polls. “You need to re-examine the budget. We’re under pressure economically, and elections in Kenya are among the most expensive in the world,” MP Atandi said.
IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah acknowledged the challenges and pledged to work openly with all Kenyans. “Many young people feel disconnected. They believe they are excluded from national processes,” IEBC Vice Chairperson Abdallah said. “We will bring them in from the start not just as voters but as participants in every stage.” She said the commission would prioritize youth engagement and make voter education central to its activities.
IEBC Commission Chairperson Erastus Ekethon Edung echoed the same tone, promising to run the IEBC with “integrity, transparency, and accountability.” “This will be the people’s commission. We are ready to serve every Kenyan and every stakeholder,” Edung said. The commissioners at the meeting included Anne Nderitu, Moses Alutala, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, and Prof. Francis Odhiambo Aduol.
The commission’s first test will be the conduct and timelines of the delayed by-elections. With fewer than two years to the next general election, public patience and scrutiny is growing.
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