Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairperson Erastus Ethekon (centre), CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan (left) and Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah address the media at Pride Inn Paradise in Shanzu, Mombasa County on July 19, 2025.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has rolled out its work plan ahead of the August 2027 General Election, prioritizing the 23 pending by-election across the country and restoring confidence of Kenyans to the electoral body.
Barely a week after the commission was sworn in, the team meant to oversee next General Election on Saturday assured Kenyans of credible and transparent election with the by-election of the 23 positions which fell vacant as a result of deaths, resignations and judicial rulings affecting those who were elected to represent the respective electoral areas.
The commission has since promised Kenyans to learn from gaps in the previous electoral body to ensure the next election cycle is credible, free and transparent to restore confidence of Kenyans.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairperson Erastus Ethekon (centre), flanked by fellow commissioners, addresses the media at Pride Inn Paradise in Shanzu, Mombasa County on July 19, 2025.
IEBC chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon led six commissioners and the secretariat in outlining six priority areas to undertake beginning next week to address a number of pending issues since the last commissioners left the office.
Dr Ethekon said next week the commission will contact the National Assembly, Senate and respective county assemblies affected to update the information after some of the writs (notes written by the Speakers declaring vacancies in elective seats) expired before the by-election date is set.
“IEBC will work with the Parliament and political parties to address the issues of pending by-elections in the next few coming days. This is our first priority given the fact that the people in those affected areas must have their elected representatives within the shortest time possible. Currently, there are 23 pending by-elections in various electoral areas in the country which include one Senate by-election, six positions in the National Assembly and 16 Member for County Assemblies (16) and we expect to expedient recourse to address this matter in the few days to come,” said the IEBC chairperson.
“The by election in the said areas will be free and fair and the Commission is committed to ensuring that their right of representation is realised in the shortest time possible and soon we shall update the country on the details including timelines through a gazette notice as required legally where we shall give 90 days’ notice,” he added.
Dr Ethekon said already the commission has acquired funds to conduct the by-elections and it is only waiting for the legal procedures to set date of the affected areas.
“The secretariat has been liaising with parliament and national treasury to secure the necessary budgetary allocations, before appointment of the Chairperson and members, are issued,” said Dr Ethekon.
The electoral body also confirmed it has received four petitions to recall their Member of Parliament and they are reviewing them to ensure they meet the threshold to declare the seats vacant.
“We have also received petitions from four constituencies and we shall do what it takes and if they meet criteria to declare the position vacant, we shall do so according to the law,” said the chairperson without disclosing the constituencies affected saying it is still at preliminary stage.
The commission said it has also taken note of the sustained demand, particularly from Kenya’s youth and the political class on the resumption of voter registration and updating of the register of voters as a result of new generation of voters eager to participate in the democratic process and promised to conduct voter registration soon to eligible voters who have attained required age of voting participate in the exercise.
“We heard the voices of young Kenyans demanding the opportunity to be counted and to be actively involved in the democratic processes of rebuilding our country, Kenya. IEBC is actively laying the groundwork for the resumption of voter registration to ensure that no voice is left out in line with our constitutional mandate, we reaffirm that the credibility of any election depends heavily on the accuracy and integrity of the voter register. A clean and inclusive register is not merely administrative, it is the foundation of free, fair and transparent elections,” said Dr Ethekon.
The Independence Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Fahima Araphat Abdallah takes an oath during the swearing-in of the new IEBC Commissioners at the Supreme Court in Nairobi on July 11, 2025.
The IEBC chairperson, his deputy Fahima Araphat Abdallah, commissioners Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol were sworn in on July 11, with the commission’s CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, who has been in office in March 2022, designated as the secretary.
The other headache for the commission is the voters’ register.
In the past two years, the commission has failed to update the register after it was temporarily suspended through a gazette notice to pave way for the compilation of the Register of Voters and conduct of the 2022 General Election and afterwards, it became legally inappropriate to resume the voter registration process owing to the absence of a Chairperson and Members of the Commission.
The electoral body has since assured Kenyans that it is currently finalizing internal processes and will in the month of August, 2025 announce via a gazette notice the timelines for resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to allow eligible citizens of Kenya to register as voters.
The commission said the will prioritise and amplify stakeholder engagements to appraise the public on our programs, plans and activities and proactively conduct targeted voter education on all electoral activities.
“One key lesson from the 2022 General Election is that voters and stakeholders yearn for more education and continued engagements in the entire electoral cycle. Additionally, most observer mission reports of the 2022 General Election recommended that the IEBC needs to ensure electoral information is readily available to the voters in all available formats and spaces to ensure voters are adequately informed to make informed choices at the booth when marking the ballot,” noted the chairperson.
Another thing on the IEBC’s to-do list, is the pending review of boundaries of the constituencies and wards after a delay of the process which was due by March 6, 2024.
“The Commission acknowledges a delay in the second boundary review as a result of the absence of a substantive Chairperson and Commission Members. The Constitution mandates the Commission to delimit constituencies and wards at intervals of not less than 8 years and not more than 12 years and review the number, names and boundary of wards periodically. The first boundary review under the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, was concluded on 5th March 2012, therefore, the second review ought to have been concluded by 6th March 2024 nevertheless, the process was stalled due to the absence of substantive Commission,” said Dr Ethekon.
Newly sworn-in IEBC Chairperson, Erastus Ethekon (left) with Chief Justice Martha Koome during the ceremony at the Supreme Court in Nairobi on July 11, 2025.
The electoral body said it had sought legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General on whether the Commission could conduct the boundaries delimitation despite the lapse of constitutional timelines or if the lapsed timelines could be extended.
“The Office of the Attorney General had advised the Commission to seek an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court on the framed issues. The Commission filed an advisory reference at the supreme court which has since been heard and is awaiting determination,” said the commission in the press conference on Saturday.
During the induction retreat the electoral body was updated by the secretariat on the election plans including legal reforms, review of the Strategic Plan (2024-2029); preparation of Election Operations Plan (2025-2027); pending by elections; as well as review of policies and standard operating procedures.
How campaigns will be funded
The IEBC said it has already undertaken a comprehensive review of the constitutional, statutory, and regulatory frameworks governing elections and formulated a set of draft Bills and Regulations aimed at enhancing the legal architecture of elections in Kenya.
The proposals have already been submitted to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly and the Senate Standing Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for further consideration and legislative action.
Some of the proposals are contained in the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Election Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the County Governments (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Other proposals are contained in the Election Campaign Financing (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which will determine how campaigns will be funded, the Referendum Bill, 2024.
The Commission said it will incorporate stakeholders’ contributions to improve the Regulations ahead of implementation in accordance with the judgement of the High Court on the exercise of the Commission mandate to enforce the Election Campaign Financing Act.
IEBC also said it will engage the National Treasury and Parliament to secure the necessary resources across the electoral cycle.
