Speaker Wetangula Urges New IEBC to Rebuild Public Trust Before 2027 Polls

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has challenged the newly reconstituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to urgently restore the public’s eroded trust.

The Speaker made the remarks during a meeting where he, together with a section of the parliamentary leadership, formally congratulated the new commission, which took office just two weeks ago.

He warned that failure to do so could drag the country into yet another fiercely contested and potentially divisive election in 2027.

Revisiting the divisions that often follow contested elections, the Speaker Wetang’ula urged the commission to conduct itself with utmost integrity to protect its reputation and avoid any semblance of bad behavior.

“The Kenyan people expect from you nothing short of impartiality, integrity, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the constitutional mandate bestowed upon the Commission,” Wetangula said.

“In an era where credible electoral processes underpin political stability and National Development, the public looks to safeguard the sanctity of their vote and uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability,” he added.

He underscored that the commission must uphold the principles expected of an electoral body as the “cornerstone of free, fair, credible, and verifiable elections.”

“Kindly avoid any temptation to act as representatives of particular communities. You are the electoral commission for the Republic of Kenya. Regardless of where you come from or which community you belong to, your duty is to serve all Kenyans equally and fairly,” the Speaker emphasized.

The poll's body takes office at a time when its in-tray is already packed with urgent constitutional responsibilities and a demanding workload.

These include resolving the long-delayed boundary delimitation exercise, which has already missed its constitutional deadlines; auditing and cleaning up the voter register to remove deceased voters; carrying out comprehensive voter registration and education; and conducting pending by-elections. 

In addition, the commission must intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.

“There is no time for excuses; it is time for action, and your tray is full. Parliament will not micromanage the commission. You are an independent institution, and our role is to appropriate funds, provide oversight, and audit and this we shall do.,” the Speaker declared. 

Leader of the majority Party Hon.  Kimani Ichung’wah and Kikuyu legislator urged the commission to focus on ensuring they were adequately prepared for the 2027 polls that are less than 2 years away.

Alego Usonga Hon. Samuel Atandi, who chairs the Budget and Appropriations Committee, acknowledged that they were committed to ensuring continuous funding of the commission to minimize instances of budgetary shortfalls in the run-up to preparations for the election, as IEBC has requested Ksh. 64 billion to carry out the 2027 general election as well as the upcoming by-elections.

“The cost of elections in Kenya is extremely high; you must review the budget and find ways of bringing it down because we are also not in a very good fiscal space,” said Hon. Atandi.

The leaders present urged the commission to liaise with the National Government and respective agencies to ensure voter registration is not hindered by a lack of the requisite identification cards.

Gilgil MP, Hon. Martha Wangari, a Member of the Speaker’s panel, warned that the commission is starting with a trust deficit and must bridge the gap to be perceived as a fair referee.

On his part, Rarieda MP, Hon. (Dr.) Otiende Amollo, who is also a member of the Justice and Legal Affairs committee, reminded the commissioners that legitimacy cannot simply be decreed by statute, insisting that legitimacy must be earned as it is not given by law.

He urged the new team to demonstrate fairness, transparency, and professionalism in all their actions to win over a skeptical public.

“The voting in Kenya is not a problem; the big issue is tallying and transmission of results, which is one area I want you to focus on,” stated Dr. Amollo.

Homa Bay Town MP, Hon. Peter Kaluma, a Member of the Speaker’s Panel,  urged the commission to verify the voter register well ahead of the 2027 General Election, noting that in 2022, the exercise was conducted too close to Election Day.

Kibwezi West MP Hon. Mwengi Mutuse, who also serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, the parent committee overseeing the commission, confirmed the committee’s readiness to prioritize reviewing legislation aimed at streamlining the country’s electoral processes.

“We are concerned about the pending by-elections. For instance, Banisa Constituency has lacked an MP since 2023. Please provide us with a roadmap on how you intend to conduct these by-elections,” Hon. Mutuse urged.

On their part, IEBC Commissioners led by Vice-Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah acknowledged the voter concerns about public trust raised by members and pledged to make the commission’s engagement with the public fully inclusive.

“As a team, we are committed to delivering an all-inclusive electoral process, especially for young people, now often called Generation Z,” Commissioner Abdallah said. 

“If you follow their conversations on social media, many feel excluded not just by IEBC but also by other government institutions. As IEBC, we have decided to lead from the front and by example.”

She added that the commission plans to involve young people at every stage of its work to reduce disillusionment and ensure they feel part and parcel of the democratic process.

“We want to include them in all stages and processes so that we move beyond lamentations and make them feel truly represented,” she stressed.

Commissioner Abdallah also revealed that the commission aims to register at least six million new voters ahead of the 2027 polls, the majority of whom will be youth.

The Commission’s Chairperson, Mr. Erastus Ekethon Edung, also acknowledged the deep-seated concerns about public trust raised by the Speaker and legislators. 

He assured the House that under his leadership, the IEBC would become “the people’s commission,” dedicated to upholding the rights of every Kenyan and stakeholder. 

Mr. Edung further pledged to guide the commission with integrity, transparency, and accountability to restore confidence in the country’s electoral process.

Other Commissioners present at the meeting included Anne Nderitu, Moses Alutala, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, and Prof. Francis Odhiambo Aduol.