Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has raised alarm over the ongoing delays in constituting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), warning of significant consequences for the 2027 General Election.
In a statement dated Tuesday, January 14, Odhiambo described the delays as a “ticking time bomb” that could jeopardize the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. She emphasized that critical constitutional requirements, such as the review of electoral boundaries, had already been derailed.
“The current voter register demands immediate action. Discrepancies, including deceased voters, invalid identification documents, and double registrations, were revealed in audits conducted in 2017 and 2022. Moreover, the boundary delimitation process necessitates updating the voter register to reflect the new electoral units,” the statement read in part.
Odhiambo further highlighted the findings of the 2022 audit, which revealed that voter registration rates in over 100 constituencies exceeded 100% based on 2019 census data. She stressed that IEBC needs adequate time to address such issues, including cleaning up the voter register and aligning electoral boundaries.
She also urged the judiciary to expedite the appeal case that has stalled the constitution of the selection panel responsible for vetting candidates for IEBC commissioner roles.
“It has been three months since the High Court rendered its judgment in the dispute. The non-prosecution of the incidental appeal undermines the sanctity of judicial processes. We call upon the court to safeguard constitutional timelines and ensure this matter is resolved urgently,” she stated.
Odhiambo criticized the misuse of judicial appeals to delay a constitutionally mandated process, describing it as an affront to judicial principles.
Currently, the IEBC lacks commissioners and cannot perform critical tasks, including conducting elections and by-elections. This has left some constituencies without Members of Parliament, further underscoring the urgent need for action.