The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has called on the newly constituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to urgently address key electoral reforms and restore public confidence as the countdown to the 2027 General Election begins.
Speaking to Star Digital, ELOG National Coordinator Mulle Musau expressed concern over the slow pace of critical processes, particularly the boundary delimitation exercise, which remains unresolved pending an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court.
“The commission should be aware that we are running out of time. Some things have already been overtaken by events including the boundary review,” said Musau. “If they don’t act swiftly, we risk going into the 2027 General Election with constituencies of unequal voting strength, which is an electoral injustice.”
Musau further urged the Erastus Ethekon-led IEBC to expedite pending by-elections and commence continuous voter registration. He emphasized the urgency of ensuring representation for regions whose parliamentary seats remain vacant.
“There are people like those in Banisa and Magarini who have gone without representation in Parliament for too long,” he said.
The Banisa seat has been vacant since the death of MP Kullow Hassan Aden in March 2023. Other constituencies without MPs include Malava, following the death of MP Malulu Injendi; Magarini, after the nullification of Harrison Kombe’s election; Kasipul, following the assassination of Charles Were; and Ugunja and Mbeere North, which fell vacant after the Cabinet appointments of Opiyo Wandayi and Geoffrey Ruku.
Beyond the operational issues, Musau underscored the importance of rebuilding trust in the electoral body. “Restoring trust in the IEBC is just as important as managing elections. Without public confidence, credibility is lost,” he noted.
In response, the IEBC has indicated it is laying the groundwork for comprehensive reforms. These include voter registration drives, legal and policy amendments, and the long-delayed boundary review.
With just two years to go, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the IEBC will rise to the occasion and deliver the reforms needed to ensure a credible and inclusive electoral process in 2027.
