Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has attributed the delay in reconstituting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to a court injunction.
Speaking on Sunday, December 8, during a church service in Kakamega County, Kindiki explained that some Kenyans had filed a legal challenge against the establishment of the recruitment panel tasked with appointing new IEBC commissioners.
“The reason there is no IEBC at the moment is that some Kenyans went to court. There is an injunction against the establishment of the recruitment panel supposed to recruit IEBC commissioners,” Kindiki stated.
The deputy president urged the petitioners to seek an out-of-court settlement to allow the process to move forward.
“We are asking the parties that have taken this matter to court to try and reach an out-of-court settlement so that we can unblock that process and complete the reconstitution of the IEBC as soon as possible,” he added.
Kindiki emphasized that Kenya is governed by the rule of law, and the government should not be blamed for delays caused by legal proceedings.
His remarks came amid growing calls from Kenyans and leaders to expedite the formation of the electoral body.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also weighed in on the matter during an event in Kasarani, Nairobi, on the same day.
Gachagua stressed the importance of having a credible electoral commission in place well ahead of the next elections, referencing the Kriegler Report’s recommendation for establishing the IEBC at least three years before an election.
“An election is as credible as the process. The Kriegler report stated that the electoral commission must be in place three years before the election. We are now left with two and a half years. There is no IEBC, and people are starting to suspect mischief as to why it has not been constituted. We are calling for the constitution of the IEBC urgently and as of yesterday,” Gachagua remarked.
The delay has sparked concerns among stakeholders about potential disruptions to future electoral processes.
