NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s electoral body has announced it will postpone any sweeping changes to constituency and ward boundaries until after the 2027 General Election, citing legal hurdles, time constraints and unresolved disputes over census data.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said on Tuesday it will instead adopt a phased approach to electoral boundary reviews, allowing preparatory work to continue while awaiting the outcome of ongoing court cases linked to population figures.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the decision was reached after extensive legal consultation and constitutional review, including guidance from the Attorney General and advisory opinions from the Supreme Court.
“The Commission has resolved that a phased approach is the most constitutionally sound and legally defensible course of action,” Ethekon told journalists, adding that full delimitation before the next election would be impractical.
No Boundary Changes Before 2027
Under the plan, no constituency or ward boundaries will be altered ahead of the 2027 polls, meaning voters will head to the ballot using the existing electoral map.
Ethekon said comprehensive boundary reviews will only take place after the elections, once population data has been legally validated and disputes surrounding the national census are resolved.
In the meantime, IEBC will proceed with activities not affected by litigation, including mapping, verification of geographical data, and training of technical personnel.
“IEBC will progressively implement activities that are not affected by any litigation,” he said.
No New Constituencies Without Constitutional Change
The Commission also sought to manage public expectations around the creation of new constituencies and wards, saying it is constitutionally constrained.
Despite receiving multiple petitions calling for the subdivision of electoral units, IEBC said the number of constituencies remains capped at 290 under Article 89 of the Constitution.
“Any review will not increase or reduce the number of constituencies but will focus on names and boundary adjustments only,” Ethekon said.
He further pointed to a legal inconsistency between the Constitution and the County Governments Act, which limits the number of wards to 1,450.
Resolving that contradiction, he said, would require intervention by Parliament.
Managing Legal and Operational Risks
IEBC said the staggered strategy is designed to minimise legal, operational and timing risks as the country prepares for the 2027 election, while safeguarding the credibility of the process.
The Commission plans to engage Parliament and the National Treasury to address funding gaps, maintain structured public consultations, and provide regular updates to stakeholders on timelines and methodologies.
“The Commission remains committed to the Constitution, the rule of law and the democratic rights of the people of Kenya,” Ethekon said.
