NAIROBI, Kenya—Religious leaders have called for the swift reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), citing the lack of commissioners as a violation of Kenyans’ constitutional right to representation.
Speaking during a forum at Ufungamano House in Nairobi on Wednesday, representatives from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) warned that the delay in reconstituting the electoral body has left some constituencies and wards without elected representatives.
The leaders stressed that this situation denies many Kenyans their democratic right to choose their leaders.
“The failure to constitute the IEBC is a gross injustice to the people of Kenya,” the leaders said in a joint statement. “Constituencies without Members of Parliament and wards without county assembly representatives are being disenfranchised, as they cannot elect their representatives.”
Currently, the IEBC is operating without commissioners after a series of resignations and the end of terms for several officials.
Only IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan remains in office. The three commissioners known as the “Cherera Four”—Irene Masit, Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, and Justus Nyang’aya—resigned or were removed following disputes over the 2022 presidential election results.
Chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye also exited in early 2023 after completing their six-year terms.
The religious leaders argued that the stalled reconstitution of the commission has left key electoral issues unresolved, urging swift action to form a new IEBC team.
They called on the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary to prioritize the issue.
“We demand that the relevant arms of government immediately conclude the formation of the IEBC Commissioners Selection Panel and provide it with the necessary resources to carry out its mandate,” they urged.
The clergy also criticized Parliament for failing to focus on pressing issues affecting ordinary Kenyans.
They noted with concern that lawmakers have shown more unity during the ongoing impeachment process against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua than in addressing the challenges facing the country, such as the growing discontent over the nation’s economic direction.
“How can both the National Assembly and Senate consistently lack quorum to discuss issues of national interest?” they asked. “Parliamentary failure to act on the people’s concerns is fostering a dangerous tyranny. To whom will Kenyans turn if their representatives are not fulfilling their duty?”
The call for urgent action comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with the state of governance, with many Kenyans expressing frustration over political gridlock and economic uncertainty.
Speaking during a forum at Ufungamano House in Nairobi on Wednesday, representatives from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) warned that the delay in reconstituting the electoral body has left some constituencies and wards without elected representatives.
The leaders stressed that this situation denies many Kenyans their democratic right to choose their leaders.
“The failure to constitute the IEBC is a gross injustice to the people of Kenya,” the leaders said in a joint statement. “Constituencies without Members of Parliament and wards without county assembly representatives are being disenfranchised, as they cannot elect their representatives.”
Currently, the IEBC is operating without commissioners after a series of resignations and the end of terms for several officials.
Only IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan remains in office. The three commissioners known as the “Cherera Four”—Irene Masit, Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, and Justus Nyang’aya—resigned or were removed following disputes over the 2022 presidential election results.
Chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye also exited in early 2023 after completing their six-year terms.
The religious leaders argued that the stalled reconstitution of the commission has left key electoral issues unresolved, urging swift action to form a new IEBC team.
They called on the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary to prioritize the issue.
“We demand that the relevant arms of government immediately conclude the formation of the IEBC Commissioners Selection Panel and provide it with the necessary resources to carry out its mandate,” they urged.
The clergy also criticized Parliament for failing to focus on pressing issues affecting ordinary Kenyans.
They noted with concern that lawmakers have shown more unity during the ongoing impeachment process against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua than in addressing the challenges facing the country, such as the growing discontent over the nation’s economic direction.
“How can both the National Assembly and Senate consistently lack quorum to discuss issues of national interest?” they asked. “Parliamentary failure to act on the people’s concerns is fostering a dangerous tyranny. To whom will Kenyans turn if their representatives are not fulfilling their duty?”
The call for urgent action comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with the state of governance, with many Kenyans expressing frustration over political gridlock and economic uncertainty.
