The newly reconstituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) today appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights (JLAHRC), laying bare its state of preparedness and the urgent reforms needed to deliver a credible 2027 General Election.
Led by Deputy Commission Secretary – Support Services, Obadiah Keitany, MBS, who represented the Commission Secretary/CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, MBS, the electoral body expressed both its readiness and its challenges. Mr. Keitany thanked the Committee, chaired by Senator Hillary K. Sigei, CBS, for the opportunity to engage in crucial deliberations on the electoral roadmap.
In his remarks, Keitany reaffirmed the Commission’s constitutional mandate under Article 88(4) to conduct and supervise elections and referenda, and under Article 89 to handle the delimitation of electoral boundaries. He said preparations are already underway in key areas, including:
Boundary delimitation
Legal and policy reforms
Voter education and registration
Risk management and electoral security
Technology integration
Institutional capacity and facilitation
Notably, the Commission highlighted an urgent matter—22 pending by-elections across the country. These include 1 Senate seat, 6 Members of the National Assembly, and 15 County Assembly Ward seats, leaving thousands of Kenyans currently unrepresented.
“This situation continues to disenfranchise constituents in the affected elective areas, undermining their right to representation and the democratic process,” Keitany said.
While assuring the Senate Committee of IEBC’s commitment to deliver free and fair elections, Keitany emphasized that electoral credibility is a shared responsibility, requiring political goodwill, sufficient funding, and timely legal reforms.
“A credible election is not the sole responsibility of the Commission—it is a collective effort that demands timely reforms, stakeholder collaboration and adequate resourcing to safeguard the will of the people during the 2027 General Election,” he stated.
The Commission concluded its presentation with a strong appeal to Parliament and the Senate to move swiftly in approving budgetary allocations and passing critical electoral laws. Without such support, Keitany warned, the Commission’s ability to meet its constitutional obligations could be significantly compromised.
The appearance before the Senate marks the Commission’s first high-level public engagement since being sworn in, as it begins to lay the groundwork for a transformative electoral process in 2027.
