The Kenyan government is grappling with intense public and political pressure to reconstitute the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
With less than three years to the next general election, challenges in forming a new electoral agency have raised fears of a looming electoral crisis.
Mounting Public Outcry
A robust social media campaign under the hashtag #appointIEBCnow has drawn attention to the delay. Citizens accuse the Kenya Kwanza government of intentionally dragging its feet.
Many argue the absence of a functional IEBC hampers critical governance, including the delimitation of boundaries and the conduct of by-elections in vacant constituencies.
The outcry stems from a deep-seated concern about democratic accountability. Without a legitimate body to oversee electoral processes, Kenya risks derailing its democratic gains.
Legal Hurdles Stalling Progress
The IEBC reconstitution process has been stalled by two major court cases. In August, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) issued an order halting the president from appointing a selection panel for the IEBC.
This came after a dispute involving the National Labour Party (NLP), where Augustus Kyalo Muli accused Azimio la Umoja of unlawfully attempting to delist him as a nominee.
