New IEBC Team Under Fire to Deliver Fast By-Elections, Redraw Boundaries Amid Tight Legal Timelines

New IEBC Team Under Fire to Deliver Fast By-Elections, Redraw Boundaries Amid Tight Legal Timelines

Kenyans are watching closely. Just moments after taking their oaths, the newly appointed IEBC commissioners, led by Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, find themselves in a pressure cooker of constitutional deadlines, logistical nightmares, and public expectation.

During the swearing-in ceremony on Friday, June 11, Ethekon boldly declared his commitment to uphold the law and serve Kenyans.

“I, Erastus Edung Ethekon, having been appointed the Chairperson of IEBC, do solemnly swear that I will at all times obey, respect and uphold the Constitution of Kenya and all other laws of the country,”
he said with conviction.

However, that solemn moment quickly gave way to harsh reality. The IEBC’s new leadership team must now immediately tackle 22 pending by-elections that have piled up since the commission was left incomplete in 2023.

---

Constitutional Clock Ticking

Among the 22 by-elections are six parliamentary seats, one Senate seat, and 15 ward-level MCA vacancies. These must be filled within 90 days from the day they were officially sworn in—by law.

Article 101(4) of the Constitution and Section 86 of the Elections Act strictly mandate:

“By-elections must be conducted within three months from the date a seat falls vacant.”

But with the commission having been non-functional for months, that clock only started ticking after Ethekon and his team were sworn in.

An IEBC insider disclosed the intensity behind the scenes:

“We hit the ground running. There’s no luxury of time. The commission is already behind and must move fast.”

---

Delayed Boundary Reviews

As if the by-elections weren’t enough, the commissioners must now prioritize the long-delayed boundary delimitation process. Kenya’s Constitution requires electoral boundaries to be reviewed every 8 to 12 years. Yet, the last review was done in 2012.

“We are racing against time. The law is very clear. The boundary review must be complete before the 2027 General Elections,”
explained a senior legal officer at the commission.

With only two years to go, the pressure to finalize this process is intense, particularly in politically sensitive regions where any boundary shift may spark protests.

---

Tech Overhaul and Voter Register Audit

In addition to elections and boundaries, the IEBC faces a critical audit of the voter register. A mass voter registration drive is also due, and the commission must urgently procure new voting technology.

This includes replacing the ageing KIEMS (Kenya Integrated Elections Management System) and BVRS (Biometric Voter Registration System) kits.

“Our systems are outdated. Some of them failed in 2022. We can’t risk using the same in 2027,”
warned a former IEBC ICT manager.

---

Swearing-In Drama Adds to Tension

Their appointment wasn’t without controversy. The High Court had previously nullified the initial gazette notice on grounds of violating existing conservatory orders issued on May 29.

Justices Roselyne Aburili, John Chigiti, and Bahati Mwamuye ruled on Thursday night that the earlier notice was “null and void.” President William Ruto had to re-gazette the appointments for them to take effect.

“The law must be followed. Procedures matter. That’s what we ruled on,”
Justice Chigiti explained in his written opinion.

---

Public Hope, But High Stakes

Despite the pressure, many Kenyans are optimistic that the new commissioners will bring credibility and transparency to future elections.

“Let them serve the country. We just want credible, fair, and peaceful elections,”
said Christine Mwangangi, a voter in Kitui.

The coming weeks will test their readiness, discipline, and patriotism.

ALSO READ: Ruto Appoints Charles Nyachae, Former MP & Ex-PS to Govt Positions

New IEBC Team Under Fire to Deliver Fast By-Elections, Redraw Boundaries Amid Tight Legal Timelines