Kenyans Rally Online After Justice Lenaola’s Call to Expedite IEBC Reconstitution
Hours after Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola called for the urgent reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kenyans took to social media, rallying behind the hashtag #AppointIEBCNow on X (formerly Twitter).
The hashtag quickly soared to the top of trending topics, capturing national attention throughout the day.
Despite the public outcry, the reconstitution process remains in limbo, with legal hurdles delaying progress until at least January 2024.
Two critical court cases are currently blocking the nomination of the nine-member IEBC selection panel by President William Ruto.
In October, Boniface Njogu filed a petition at the Kiambu High Court challenging the selection panel’s composition. He argues that it violates Articles 10 and 54(2) of the Constitution, which mandate at least 5% representation of persons with disabilities in public bodies.
Njogu contends that the panel lacks such representation and has sought court orders to prevent the Attorney General and Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye from forwarding the panel’s nominees to the President. Kiambu High Court Judge Dora Chepkwony granted conservatory orders halting the panel’s appointment until the case is resolved. The judgment is scheduled for January 25, 2024.
Another contentious issue involves Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition’s nominee for the selection panel. A dispute between Ambassador Koki Muli and Augustus Kyallo Muli over who should represent the coalition on the political parties’ liaison committee has escalated to the Court of Appeal.
Kyallo alleges he was unfairly overlooked in favor of Koki, while Azimio maintains that Koki Muli is the appropriate candidate, citing her qualifications and the need for gender balance among nominees.
Justice Lenaola voiced frustration over the prolonged stalemate, asking, “Why is the IEBC not being constituted? Is it because Azimio cannot decide on their representative? Can a country be held hostage over this for two years?”
All stakeholders involved in forming the IEBC selection panel have finalized and forwarded their nominee lists to Parliament for review.
However, the process remains stalled due to the unresolved court cases, leaving President Ruto unable to proceed with appointments. Kenyans continue to push for swift action, emphasizing the urgency of reconstituting the IEBC to restore public confidence in electoral processes.
