Wamuzi News Ke
Kenya may be heading straight into a constitutional showdown that could shake the foundation of the country’s next general election.
In a fiery outburst on Tuesday, May 20, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma sounded the alarm over a dramatic High Court decision that halted the vetting of President William Ruto’s nominees to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Kaluma did not mince words—he warned that this ruling could cripple the commission’s preparations for the 2027 General Election and thrust the nation into chaos.
“The country is on the brink of a constitutional crisis,” Kaluma declared. “The court orders suspending the vetting of IEBC commissioners are a direct assault on public interest and democratic stability.”
The High Court issued the bombshell conservatory orders on Monday, May 19, stopping the Parliamentary Justice and Legal Affairs Committee from screening the nominees until at least May 29, pending the outcome of a legal petition filed earlier this month. This came just days after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula had announced that vetting would kick off on May 27.
Photo
Peter Kaluma
Kaluma has slammed the decision, accusing the judiciary of overstepping its bounds and daring Parliament to defy the orders in the name of public good. “The courts cannot interfere with parliamentary processes. We must move forward—Kenyans cannot be held hostage by legal theatrics,” he thundered.
The delay has already caused a ripple effect. Without a fully reconstituted IEBC, key constitutional functions are now in limbo—including critical by-elections in Banisa, Magarini, and Ugunja, which remain without elected representatives.
Equally alarming is the commission’s failure to carry out its scheduled review of electoral boundaries, a constitutional mandate due every 8 to 12 years. Experts warn this lapse could distort the 2027 electoral map, raising questions about the legitimacy of the next polls.
Former IEBC CEO James Oswago added fuel to the fire, stating that the current nominees lack the training and experience to manage a nationwide election. “You need at least two years to properly prepare a new commissioner to run a general election. Right now, that window is closing,” Oswago warned.
President Ruto had earlier nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as IEBC Chairperson, with Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla as commissioners. But their appointments now hang in legal limbo.
This is the second major blow to the IEBC reconstitution process in under a month, with the original petition challenging the legality of the nominations filed on May 14.
As Kenya watches this escalating standoff between the Judiciary and Parliament, one thing is clear—if a resolution isn’t found soon, the credibility of the 2027 elections could be on the line.
