The United States has sent a subtle warning to Kenya over the uncertainty surrounding the country’s electoral body, less than three years to the next general election.
Through a statement from the US Embassy, the superpower warned that democracy in Kenya was at stake since the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was yet to get new commissioners.
“IEBC’s ability to support democracy in Kenya is at risk without recruiting commissioners or parliamentary action to provide IEBC funding for voter registration. by-elections and other activities,” the US Embassy said.
On Wednesday, US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman met IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan at Anniversary Towers to discuss a areas of mutual collaboration.
This comes even as the IEBC continues to operate without commissioners following the resignation of most of them following the hotly contested 2022 presidential election. As it stands, the body is unable to hold any elections as currently constituted
For instance, Banisa Constituency in Mandera County has been without an MP since March 2023 following the passing of its Member of Parliament Hassan Kullow.
IEBC’s functions were hampered in 2023 after three of its commissioners- Abdi Guliye, Boya Molu and Chairman Wafula Chebukati retired. This left only the CEO, whose mandate is strictly limited to supervising and performing secretarial duties.
The trio’s resignation came after four other commissioners left their posts following the contentious 2022 General Elections. Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya all downed their tools after the 2022 presidential poll.
In July 2024, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024 was made into law, marking the beginning of a lengthy process to recruit commissioners.
The new law hands supreme powers to the IEBC chairman, who will have full control of the commission such that no one else can assume office in his absence.
President William Ruto is now expected to publish in a Gazzete Notice with the names of the individuals submitted to him to sit in a nine-member selection panel which will include two persons nominated by the Parliamentary Service Commission and three persons nominated by the Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC).
However, since there is no timeline on when the President can constitute the panel, the country continues to wait with bated breaths on the future of the IEBC.
With the crippled functions of IEBC, some of the country’s functions have effectively also been affected.
Why US is Concerned: The US has always taken a keen interest in electoral matters in the Kenya. In the wake of President Ruto’s visit to the US in May 2024, the US, through a dispatch by the White House committed monetary assistance to Kenya to go into strengthening democracy and ensure free and credible elections.
The US administration pledged KSh190 million (USD 1.5 million) which would go towards building capacity for political parties and supporting the IEBC.
