Mungatana dismisses claims Ruto’s govt will extend its term beyond 2027
By Luke Oluoch, September 10, 2025Tana River Senator Duncan Mungatana has allayed fears that the Kenya Kwanza regime is seeking an extended stay in power by delaying the upcoming 2027 polls.
Speaking during a live TV interview on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, over the raging debate on the timing of the date of the next general polls, the senator laughed off the assertions as horrible.
The Kenyan Kwanza-allied senator holds that the elections will be held despite the prevailing challenges associated with constitutional implementations and the delimitation process.
“Kenyans should not worry too much about plans that the government wants to extend its mandate by staying in power,” he stated.
“It is horrible; if that were the case, nobody would be bothered hitting the ground. It is not right to create stories and bring tension. We want the elections and renewed mandates,” he stated.
Mung’atana has asserted that the challenges faced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in terms of compliance are not unique to even countries overseas.
“We want the election, and I want to assure Kenyans that we cannot go beyond five years. We are not opposed to IEBC doing the delimitation, but challenges are real,” he added.
The former MP also warned that delays in reviewing constituency and ward boundaries could pose serious risks ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Article 88 of the Constitution gives the IEBC the sole mandate to delimit or amend boundaries, while Article 89 fixes the number of constituencies at 290,” Mungatana said.
“We cannot just increase or reduce that number, but we can adjust boundaries based on population, topography, and community interests. These are real issues that affect real people, and they must be handled carefully.”
Legal and political risks
The senator highlighted the risks of leaving the review pending. “If the IEBC does not act within the stipulated timelines, it risks facing court challenges,” he explained.
“This isn’t hypothetical; delays could spark disputes over representation, resource allocation, and voter registration. Communities need clarity, and the law must protect them.”
His remarks come after IEBC suffered yet another legal setback following the Supreme Court’s rejection of its request for an extension on the boundary review. The electoral body’s secretariat had filed the case back on July 4, 2024.