President William Ruto’s Senior Advisor Moses Kuria has sparked a political debate after claiming that Kenya is unlikely to hold the 2027 General Election due to ongoing legal hurdles affecting the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Speaking in response to remarks made by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Kameme FM earlier today, Kuria said the stalled process of swearing in new IEBC commissioners has put the country on a dangerous constitutional path.
“The swearing in of IEBC Commissioners has been stopped by the court,” Kuria stated. “In another 39 days, we will start the two-year countdown to the 2027 elections. According to the Kriegler Commission, there cannot be a free and fair election if a commission is not in place at least two years before the polls.”
Kuria warned that, given Kenya’s litigious political environment, the court case could drag on until September 2027, well beyond the timelines required to prepare for credible elections. He argued that this could leave the country without a constitutional framework to conduct elections, effectively extending the current administration’s stay in power.
“I am not a Senior Counsel. I am not a lawyer. Kalonzo Musyoka is. He knows there is not going to be an election in 2027. The only difference is that I am honest and he is not,” Kuria added, in a scathing remark aimed at the opposition leader.
The former legislator’s comments come amid growing tension over the delayed reconstitution of the IEBC, which was disbanded in 2022 following the retirement and resignation of several commissioners after the disputed presidential election.
Kuria’s remarks have already drawn sharp criticism and concern from constitutional experts and civil society groups, with many warning against any attempts to subvert the electoral calendar or predict a constitutional crisis before legal processes have run their course.
As the two-year constitutional deadline to reconstitute the IEBC looms, the debate on the future of Kenya’s democracy is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.
