MOMBASA, Kenya – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has received four official petitions seeking the recall of Members of Parliament from office, Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has confirmed.
Speaking during a press briefing in Mombasa, Ethekon said the commission is currently reviewing the requests and will determine whether they meet the legal threshold for a recall.
“The commission has so far received four recall petitions. We will assess them based on the weight and substance of the matters raised,” Ethekon said, without disclosing the identities of the lawmakers targeted or the specific grounds cited.
The right to recall MPs is enshrined in the Constitution, but the process is legally complex and rarely successful.
It requires, among other conditions, that the petitioner provides evidence of gross misconduct, violation of the law, or failure to perform functions as mandated.
In a related development, Ethekon revealed that the IEBC has filed a case at the Supreme Court seeking legal guidance on how to proceed with the long-delayed electoral boundary review.
The delay, he noted, was caused by the absence of a fully constituted commission after the 2022 General Election.
“We’ve gone to the Supreme Court to seek direction on the boundary delimitation issue. This is a constitutional matter, and we want clarity on how to move forward,” he said.
The review of electoral boundaries is required every 8 to 12 years, but the process stalled in recent years due to a leadership vacuum at the commission.
Ethekon said the IEBC is also laying the groundwork for a series of major reforms, including the resumption of continuous voter registration, legal amendments relating to elections, and the upcoming boundary review — all of which are crucial in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election.
Additionally, the commission is preparing to conduct by-elections in select constituencies and wards where vacancies have arisen, although specific dates and locations were not immediately disclosed.
“The commission is now fully operational and committed to fulfilling its constitutional mandate in a transparent, accountable, and timely manner,” Ethekon said.
The developments come amid heightened public scrutiny of Parliament and growing calls for electoral justice, particularly from the youth and civil society groups.
