The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming it has received 60 petitions to recall underperforming Members of Parliament.
Speaking in Mombasa on Friday, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon clarified that the commission has only received four formal recall petitions. He emphasized that while citizens have the constitutional right to initiate the recall process, any such action must adhere to legal guidelines.
“We currently have roughly four petitions. We will look at them once we go back to the office,” said Ethekon. He reiterated the commission’s commitment to following due process and ensuring that every petition is evaluated based on its merit and legal thresholds.
The right to recall is enshrined in Article 104 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) and further detailed in the Elections Act of 2011. According to these laws, an MP can only be recalled after serving for two years and not within the last 12 months before a general election. Grounds for recall include violation of the Leadership and Integrity Act, gross misconduct, mismanagement of public funds, or conviction for election-related offences.
Ethekon affirmed that the IEBC respects and upholds the constitutional rights of Kenyans to hold their elected leaders accountable. “It is the right of every Kenyan to exercise that right of recall under the Constitution, and as IEBC, we will do that which the law allows us to do,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the commission is also in the process of updating the voter register in preparation for upcoming by-elections. Kenya currently has 23 vacant elective positions, including one senatorial seat, six parliamentary seats, and 16 ward representative positions.
The IEBC has assured the public that all electoral processes, including petitions for recall, will be handled transparently and in full compliance with the law.
As public interest in governance and accountability rises, the IEBC’s reaffirmation of legal procedures provides clarity amid growing civic engagement and speculation online.
