Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has expressed concern over the prolonged delay in reconstituting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), warning that the stagnation is beginning to destabilize the country’s electoral cycle and democratic operations.

Speaking during the burial ceremony of Mzee Mwalimu William Lumati, father to Cooperative University Chancellor Dr. Benard Chitunga, in Chegulo ward, Malava Constituency, Mudavadi warned that vested political interests were derailing the process. He accused a section of politicians of working with proxies and exploiting judicial processes to delay the IEBC reformation.

“We are our own enemies at times when we push such serious agendas so far,” Mudavadi said.

His remarks come in the wake of a High Court decision on Monday, May 19, 2025, which halted the planned vetting by Parliament of nominees for the IEBC chairperson and commissioners. The court cited legal missteps in the selection process involving President William Ruto and the selection panel.

The IEBC’s reconstitution is guided by the IEBC Act and Article 250 of the Constitution, requiring the appointment of a chairperson qualified to serve as a Supreme Court judge and six commissioners. The current delays have stymied efforts to move forward with critical electoral functions, including conducting by-elections in areas left without elected representatives.

Mudavadi defended the transparency of the recruitment process, saying the interviews were conducted publicly, with proceedings broadcast live on national television.

“The individuals seeking these positions were interviewed in broad daylight, and Kenyans watched the live proceedings on TV,” he said. “Kenyans can single out who fits and who doesn’t fit. Kenyans know who performed well and who didn’t perform well.”

He added that Parliament had already opened avenues for the public to submit any credible information disqualifying nominees, insisting that the vetting process was ready to move forward.

The Prime CS criticized those who have returned to court after previously demanding national dialogue over the reconstitution. He warned that such actions were not only delaying elections but also undermining constitutional obligations.

“Let Kenyans forward any evidence they might be holding. This is a process step by step, but we are seeing people who are now getting worried, and their end game is to delay the process and consequently delay the elections,” Mudavadi stated.

He emphasized that fears over ethnic representation in the IEBC were misplaced, saying the Constitution does not require the commission to include members from all Kenyan communities.

“You cannot have an IEBC of all the 42 or 43 Kenyan tribes or communities,” he said. “If we were all to pull to our corners, the Constitution will not allow us to have 43 commissioners. It has a limit.”

“Watu wawache kuogopa uchaguzi,” he added, urging political leaders to stop fearing elections and allow the process to proceed.

Lack of representation

Mudavadi also highlighted the real-world consequences of the IEBC delay. Several constituencies and wards in the country have been left without elected representation for months, with by-elections now in limbo due to the commission’s non-functionality.

“This is a disservice to those Kenyans who need to exercise their democratic right by electing new representatives for their respective areas,” he said. “We have counties that lost a senator; those people need that position filled.”

Calling for an end to political gamesmanship, Mudavadi urged leaders to put national interest above personal or ethnic considerations.

“Let us stop this joke and the attributes of satisfying selfish interests at the expense of millions of Kenyans,” he said.

The Prime CS’s remarks underscore the growing urgency to resolve the IEBC stalemate as Kenya inches closer to the next electoral cycle amid rising political temperatures.