‘The absence of IEBC is a violation of the rights of Kenyans’ – Archbishop Ole Sapit

Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has called on the government to expedite the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Speaking on Sunday, December 8, 2024, the man of the cloth emphasized the importance of IEBC in place and opined that the absence of the electoral body is a violation of the rights of Kenyans.

Highlighting the importance of IEBC, Sapit mentioned that the government should reconstitute the body in good time to ensure the team is trained well enough and in good time for efficient delivery.

“We will need an IEBC that is completely prepared to handle the elections in good time for procurement purposes and make sure that we run an election by a team that has been trained well enough and in good time to be able to manage that process. The absence of IEBC is a violation of the rights of Kenyans. Let us put the best interest of the country before our own,” he said.

Sapit has joined politicians and a section of Kenyans in calling for the appointment of IEBC commissioners.

Yesterday, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua called out the government over the delay reiterating the need to restructure the electoral body saying the matter should be accorded the urgency it deserves.

He went on to state that the exercise is important to enable commissioners to prepare adequately for the 2027 elections.

“An election is as credible as the process. Kriegler’s report said that an election commission must be in place three years before elections. Now we have two and a half years to go and we do not have a fully constituted IEBC. People can read mischief on why IEBC is not fully constituted,” he stated.

“We are calling for the constitution of IEBC urgently as of yesterday so that they can start preparing for elections so that the process can be as credible as the expected outcome. When Kenyans demand that, they have not done anything wrong; that is their right,” the former DP added.

Before that Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola also came out to demand the full constitution of the electoral body.

The judge, while speaking at the Regional Conference on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital, and social media in elections in Kenya, noted that he could not grasp why Members of Parliament (MPs) continued to pass laws regarding other matters while ignoring the important one.

“I am one of those judges who are not limited in expressing my mind. I speak my mind. Mtanipeleka wapi? Si Manyata ni hapa Samburu. I don’t understand why we are busy passing legislation very quickly on other subjects that are politically important, but we don’t look at what is extremely important for this country.

“For example, the Electoral Commission—how can a country like ours stand on her feet if we do not have an electoral commission? Elections are in 2027; this is 2024. When will this commission be prepared?” he posed.

Adding;

“But why don’t we use social media to impact legislation? Why don’t we have a hashtag, ‘Appoint IEBC Now,’ and spread it? Those who have an opportunity will follow it.”