On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the United States issued a warning to Kenya regarding the uncertainty surrounding the country's electoral body, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

After a meeting between U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman and IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein on Wednesday, October 22, the U.S. embassy expressed concern that the commission's capacity to uphold democracy is in jeopardy due to the lack of commissioners. The embassy also highlighted that Parliament's failure to allocate funding for essential activities like voter registration further threatens the democratic process.

“IEBC’s ability to support democracy in Kenya is at risk without the recruitment of commissioners or parliamentary action to provide IEBC funding for voter registration, by-elections, and other election activities. The United States supports Kenya’s democracy through USAID,” the statement read.

PHOTO | COURTESY  U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman and IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein on Wednesday, October 22

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This comes three months after President William Ruto pledged to ensure a transparent recruitment process for new IEBC commissioners.

Following the signing of the IEBC Amendment Bill on July 9, 2024, he emphasized that the selection panel will consist of diverse stakeholders, including representatives from political parties and professional bodies.

“This historic action paves the way for appointing the selection panel that will recruit IEBC’s new commissioners. I am fully behind the process and committed to ensuring its full implementation,” Ruto said.

IEBC commissioners play a crucial role in overseeing the electoral process, including formulating policies that guide the electoral process and ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and transparently.

PHOTO | COURTESY IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein

Commissioners also supervise the conduct of elections, managing logistics and ensuring compliance with electoral laws.

In addition to their supervisory role, IEBC commissioners verify and ratify election results submitted by the secretariat.

Furthermore, commissioners are tasked with reviewing electoral boundaries, which is a key function for ensuring fair representation in Parliament and government.