Wamalwa warns IEBC against false start before 2027 elections
By William Muthama, July 22, 2025Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa has issued a stern warning to the newly reconstituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) against making early missteps that could erode public trust as the country heads toward the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a party coordination meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, held in Nairobi, Wamalwa congratulated the new IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon, and his team, but reminded them that they carry the weight of a nation’s democratic hopes.
“To whom much is given, much is expected,” Wamalwa stated. “Never in the history of our great nation has so much been entrusted to so few.”
Clear roadmap
The former Defence Cabinet Secretary urged the commission to urgently release an electoral roadmap following their recent retreat in Mombasa.
He emphasized the need to prioritise the conduct of pending by-elections in Baringo County, six constituencies, Malava, Ugunja, Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, and Mbeere North, and at least 16 county assembly wards across the country
“These by-elections will serve as the first litmus test of the Commission’s independence, integrity, and technical capacity,” he said, pointing out that the reconstitution process had already faced court challenges, raising public skepticism.
Wamalwa warned that any false start, delay, or opaque decision-making by the new team could plunge the country into political uncertainty and undermine faith in the 2027 electoral process.
Urgency and support
Calling on the commission to act boldly and with purpose, Wamalwa said, “The annals of history are beckoning. Do not falter. Be of good courage and rise to the occasion.”
He further appealed to key state institutions, including the National Assembly, Senate, National Treasury, development partners, and Kenyans of goodwill, to offer IEBC the necessary support to deliver on its mandate within the constitutional timeline.
“Kenyans are painfully aware of what little time you have, and how close we are cutting it to the Kriegler deadlines,” Wamalwa said. “The country cannot afford another electoral mismanagement.”