The demand for a new IEBC has been put as a priority during the nationwide protests which have been youth-led and involved.
After months of wondering when the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will be reconstituted, President William Ruto on Sunday, June 30 declared that this would be done in the next 10 days.
Speaking during a candid interview with digital journalists, Ruto confirmed that he received a parliamentary report authorising him to appoint new commissioners for the IEBC. This is in adherence to the demands set forth by the Gen Zs who staged protests last week.
“On the status of IEBC, I received the final report from Parliament two days ago and within the next 10 days, I will make a decision and we will proceed and appoint a new IEBC,” he revealed.
The demand for a new IEBC has been put as a priority during the nationwide protests which have been youth-led and involved.
President William Ruto during an interview with digital media at State House, Nairobi on June 30, 2024. /PCS
With calls for Members of Parliament (MP) who voted in favour of the Finance Bill 2024 to be recalled and bolder calls for Ruto to resign, the youth believe that the paralysis concerning the reconstitution of the IEBC cannot be allowed to continue.
With one of the demands released online last Friday reading “Constitute the IEBC within the next 30 days to facilitate our move to recall all rogue MPs and hold fresh elections,” the IEBC has now been viewed as a critical body in having their wish for the lawmakers to be recalled and sent back to the ballot.
One of the main triggers for the anti-Finance Bill protests has been the controversial Finance Bill which sailed through Parliament on Tuesday, June 25 after 195 Members of Parliament voted to pass it while 106 others rejected it. Three votes were spoiled.
This has ignited calls for the recall of MPs accused of betraying Kenyans, a process that involves the IEBC.
Furthermore, reconstituting the IEBC early is also viewed as important given that the next general elections are in 2027- three years away from now.
The IEBC’s dysfunction, due to the absence of commissioners, has halted critical operations, including the organisation of by-elections, and the move is threatening to put the next general elections in limbo.
The urgency of the matter was further highlighted last week when the National Assembly passed the IEBC (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
This legislative move, which has the concurrence of the Senate, aims to resolve the ongoing crisis at the IEBC. However, the specifics of the report President Ruto referenced remain unclear.
The IEBC has been in disarray since the retirement of Chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye in January last year.
The situation was worsened by the ousting of Juliana Cherera and three other commissioners for rejecting Ruto’s presidential election victory.
