Azimio La Umoja has chosen Dr. Koki Muli to represent them in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel. This panel is in charge of appointing new IEBC commissioners.
Why Was Dr. Muli Selected?
- Court Directive: A court order required Azimio to nominate a new representative by Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 3 pm.
- Previous Nominee Disqualified: The earlier nominee, Augustus Kyalo Muli, was disqualified because his party, the National Liberal Party (NLP), doesn’t have any members in Parliament.
The Court’s Decision
- High Court Ruling: On Tuesday, Judge Janet Mulwa ruled that Augustus Muli could not be a representative due to the lack of parliamentary representation from his party.
- The judge stated that Azimio should have known that Kyalo did not meet the legal requirements.
- Compensation: Azimio is also required to pay Augustus Muli for the costs he incurred during his clearance process.
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Background on the IEBC
- The IEBC has been without a chairperson and commissioners since:
- The mass resignation of the “Cherera Four.”
- The retirement of former Chair Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye.
- President William Ruto signed the IEBC Amendment Act 2024 into law in July. This law is meant to help restructure the commission ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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Current Challenges Facing the IEBC
Without new commissioners, the IEBC is struggling to perform essential tasks like:
- Voter registration
- Delineating electoral boundaries
- Organizing by-elections
Warnings from the International Community
- US Concerns: US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, has warned that the delay in appointing new IEBC commissioners could harm Kenya’s democracy. She emphasized that the IEBC needs immediate action to ensure it can hold free and fair elections.
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Sources:
- Court ruling by Judge Janet Mulwa on October 22, 2024.
- Statement from the US Embassy in Nairobi (via X), shared on October 23, 2024.
