A section of church leaders from Nyanza region have raised strong concerns regarding the delay in appointing new commissioners to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

According to the religious leaders, the prolonged vacancy in the commission poses a significant risk to the credibility and integrity of Kenya’s electoral processes ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

The religious leaders were led by the Bishop of Bondo Diocese Prof David Kodia of the Anglican church, the Bishop of Maseno South Diocese Rev. Charles Onginjo, the Bishop of Maseno West John Mark Godia, Southern Nyanza’s Rev Simon Onyango, Rev. Patrick Ligawa, the Archbishop Church of Christ in Africa and Bishop Clement Otieno of the Free Pentecostal Church of Kenya.

Clergy on public trust

Addressing the press outside St Stephen Cathedral in Kisumu on Monday, November 18, 2024, the clergy called on the government to act swiftly and appoint the new commissioners, arguing that the delay could undermine public trust in the country’s electoral system.

They were unhappy with the current delay in appointing the IEBC commissioners leaving some regions unrepresented in various elective positions citing Ugunja Constituency for instance where till now there is no substantive MP.

This was after area MP Opiyo Wandayi was tapped to join the Broad-Based Government as Energy Cabinet Secretary.

“This is a very crucial electoral agency. For how long will we continue or stay without IEBC Mr President yet there are many wards and constituencies that aren’t represented in the county and National Assembly to date. Where is electoral justice here?” Prof Kodia stated.

Church on IEBC role

The church leaders argued that the IEBC plays a critical role in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections and that any delay in filling its vacancies compromises the commission’s ability to carry out its duties effectively.

“In a democracy like Kenya, where elections are central to governance and the legitimacy of the government, the proper functioning of the IEBC is crucial,” Prof Kodia said.

The church leaders further emphasized that the ongoing delay is detrimental to the country’s political stability, as it may lead to uncertainty or disputes in future elections.

Political manipulation

Additionally, the church leaders pointed out that the prolonged vacancy could create room for political manipulation, as the existing commissioners may be seen as inadequate or unbalanced in their decision-making processes.

They expressed concerns that this could contribute to the erosion of public confidence in the election results, leading to a potential crisis of legitimacy.

Prof Kodia said their spirited call for the state to expedite the appointment of IEBC commissioners is rooted in a desire to safeguard the democratic process and ensure that Kenya’s electoral system remains robust, inclusive, and credible for all citizens

“We demand an official statement from the President on the state of the appointment of new IEBC commissioners,” Prof Kodia said.

Rev Onyango said Kenya needs a government that is sensitive to the plight of ordinary Kenyans.

“We need a government that understands the limit of people’s capacity to bear the burden of excessive taxation. Kenyans need an alternative voice that can keep the government in check. Kenyans need to be treated with dignity and their voices must be respected,” Onyango said.

They also demanded from the President a publication of all the state appointments he has made since he took over the office before and after the creation of the “broad-based government”.

“We demand the publication of the current state of employment and financial obligations of the staff at the state house including the paid prayer warriors. We also demand the report on foreign travel that the president promised would be cut. We also demand the status of the office of the first and second ladies that the president publicly stated would be abolished because they are not constitutional,” the clergy said

The Nyanza-based Bishops also demanded that the Government revoke the unpopular funding model that segregates our university students into economic bands and revert back to the old University funding model that was not discriminatory.

“We demand that the government immediately implements the University Lecturers’ CBA to allow normalcy at our universities,” Prof Kodia stated.