Lugari Member of Parliament (MP) Nabii Nabwera has stated that Kenyans will resist any delays or postponement of the August 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a local TV station on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the MP stated that most Kenyans are looking forward to the elections more than the delimitation of constituencies.

“Anything that one does that will affect people not going to an election in August 2027, Kenyans will resist,” he stated.

“If you went to my constituency and asked them, ‘What is important today, delimitation of the constituency or an election?’ They will say they want an election even if we were to call it today.”

His remarks come after the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetang’ula, expressed concerns that the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) may delay the boundary delimitation process.

Delimitation of constituencies

Speaking during a mid-term retreat for members of the National Assembly in Naivasha on January 29, 2025, he stated that while the delayed reconstitution of the IEBC has hindered the timely conduct of by-elections in various constituencies and wards, it may also make it impossible to create additional constituencies.

Wetang’ula pointed out that the Constitution establishes the current 290 constituencies, leaving no room for expansion due to time constraints.

“The delay in the reconstitution of the IEBC has stalled crucial activities, including boundary delimitation, which is vital for the country’s electoral system, as well as the timely conduct of by-elections in constituencies and wards that have experienced vacancies,” he said.

Further, the Speaker said it is unlikely a newly reconstituted commission will have time to conduct a boundary review ahead of the 2027 general election.

“It is indeed true that due to the delay in the reconstitution of the IEBC, we have lost a lot of time because of being embroiled in court cases. We do not know whether there will be a possibility for boundary delimitation once the new commissioners assume office.”

Article 89 of the Constitution on the delimitation of electoral units states that there shall be 290 constituencies to elect members of the National Assembly.

Article 97(1)(a)(b) provides that the National Assembly consists of 290 members, each elected by the registered voters of single-member constituencies, and 47 women, each elected by the registered voters of the counties, with each county constituting a single-member constituency.

It further states that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission shall review the names and boundaries of constituencies at intervals of not less than eight years and not more than twelve years.

However, any review must be completed at least twelve months before a general election of members of Parliament.