IEBC Urges Caution on Electoral Reforms as 2027 Polls Approach

Nairobi, Kenya – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has issued a strong advisory to Parliament, urging lawmakers to avoid rushing through critical electoral reform legislation with less than two years until the 2027 General Election. Officials from the commission emphasized that hasty changes could severely hamper preparation efforts and erode public confidence in the upcoming polls.

This caution arises amid accelerated efforts in Parliament to implement recommendations from the National Dialogue Committee report through three pivotal amendment Bills: the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Election Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot from Kericho and Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo from Kilifi, these Bills were introduced last year. They have already cleared the Senate and moved to the National Assembly for approval. The National Assembly recently approved the Elections (Amendment) Bill with modifications and sent it back to the Senate for further agreement.

To date, the only fully realized reform from the National Dialogue Committee has been the IEBC (Amendment) Act, which broadened the selection panel for recruiting new commissioners. With just 21 months left before voters head to the polls, the commission highlighted the tight timeline, noting that the remaining Bills are lagging behind schedule. Drawing on the Independent Review Commission report led by retired South African judge Johan Kriegler, the IEBC reminded legislators that electoral laws should ideally be revised or introduced at least two years prior to an election to allow for proper planning and execution.

The three Bills represent a subset of broader reforms outlined by the 10-member National Dialogue Committee, a bipartisan body formed to foster agreement on constitutional, legal, and policy changes tackling major national issues. The committee's work centered on five core domains.

In the realm of electoral justice, it called for overhauling and rebuilding the IEBC, conducting boundary reviews, and scrutinizing the 2022 presidential election. Key proposals included expanding the IEBC selection panel to nine members, establishing parliamentary-approved timelines for boundary delimitation, probing allegations of marginalization in certain regions, and accelerating laws for county boundary adjustments under Article 188 of the Constitution. For the 2022 election review, the committee suggested forming an expert panel to assess the voting process and create ongoing evaluation frameworks for future elections.

Addressing unresolved constitutional challenges, the committee tackled the escalating cost of living, enforcement of the two-thirds gender principle in leadership roles, governance enhancements to foster unity, greater inclusivity in public sector appointments, and stronger checks and balances across branches of government.

On loyalty to political parties and multiparty democracy, the focus was on safeguards against external meddling in party operations or coalitions, ensuring fair competition and internal autonomy.

Financial reforms included embedding key funds directly into the Constitution, such as the National Government Constituency Development Fund, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund, and the Senate Oversight Fund, to secure their continuity and effectiveness.

Finally, regarding state institutions, the committee advocated for formally recognizing the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition to affirm the opposition's role in Kenya's democracy. It also proposed establishing and constitutionalizing the Office of the Prime Minister to streamline executive coordination and responsibilities.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has committed to expediting the process, promising completion of the Bills within the next three months. He stressed the importance of finalizing reforms well in advance, stating that adjustments cannot be made mere months before the election. During discussions with Dr. Ed Barnett, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme and UN-Habitat, Wetangula underscored the ongoing struggle to rebuild trust in the IEBC and called for more robust public outreach by the commission.

The National Dialogue Committee emerged from a high-stakes bipartisan agreement aimed at defusing political unrest after violent demonstrations sparked by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga's challenge to the August 9, 2022, presidential results. That election, which saw President William Ruto declared the winner, left deep divisions, prompting the dialogue as a pathway to reconciliation and systemic improvements.

As Kenya navigates this delicate phase, the IEBC's plea underscores the high stakes: balanced reforms are essential not just for logistical readiness but for safeguarding the integrity of a process that defines the nation's democratic future. Lawmakers now face the challenge of balancing urgency with thoroughness to deliver changes that strengthen, rather than strain, the electoral framework.