The Senate’s minority leadership has urged for the immediate reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Senate Majority Leader Stewart Madzayo and his deputy, Kitui Senator Enock Wambua, said the IEBC commissioners needed to be appointed immediately to start preparing for the 2027 General Election, including the delimitation of boundaries that must be done ahead of the polls.
They spoke at Barani Secondary School in Malindi town, during a Christmas party for the Akamba community in Malindi Sub County, where Wambua defended Parliament, stating that the Senate and National Assembly were awaiting bills from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), which would facilitate the constitution of the polls body.
“The NADCO report provided a roadmap for appointing IEBC commissioners, but due to varying opinions, it was delayed into becoming law,” Wambua told journalists.
The senator criticized the current lack of a well-structured electoral body in the country and called on the government to prioritize the appointment of IEBC commissioners.
Wambua said the country is courting disaster by not having a properly constituted electoral body and urged the government to do everything possible to ensure the IEBC commissioners are in place as a matter or priority.
“I say this because there are crucial things that the commission cannot do without the commissioners in place, such as conducting by-elections that are due in three constituencies and at least six county wards as well as the review of electoral boundaries,” he said.
On his part, Madzayo urged both the executive and legislature to expedite the appointment of commissioners to the electoral commission, expressing optimism about the outcome.
The Kilifi senator at the same time called for an end to political abductions and the immediate release of some missing Kenyans, believed to have been kidnapped by security agencies.
By Emmanuel Masha
