Several constituencies and wards across Kenya may soon head back to the ballot as the country prepares for a fully reconstituted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), expected to be in place within the next two months.
The process to appoint new IEBC leadership began on March 27, with interviews kicking off to identify a new chairperson.
A number of well-known candidates are being considered, all hoping to impress the selection panel and take over the crucial role.
This new leadership will be tasked with steering the commission through several pending by-elections in areas currently lacking proper political representation.
Once appointed, the new commissioners and chairperson will be responsible for organizing and supervising any necessary by-elections.
However, this will depend heavily on how quickly the reconstitution process is completed and how soon the commission can adequately prepare for the polls.
There’s growing concern over the constitutional implications of the current situation. Article 101 of the 2010 Constitution clearly states that if a seat in Parliament or the Senate becomes vacant, a by-election should be held within 90 days.
Despite this, several constituencies have remained without elected representatives for much longer, raising legal and ethical questions about delays in filling these vacancies, especially with the next general election just under three years away.
Some of the constituencies where residents are waiting anxiously to see if they’ll get to vote again include Banisa in Mandera County, Magarini in Kilifi County, and Ugunja in Siaya County.
These areas currently lack representation in the National Assembly due to various reasons.
Additionally, several county assembly wards are facing a similar situation. These include Kisa East Ward in Kakamega County, Chewana Ward in Tana River County, and Nyamaiya Ward in Nyamira County. These areas are also due for by-elections as their seats remain unoccupied.
Banisa Constituency has been without a Member of Parliament since March 2023, when MP Kullow Hassan tragically passed away following a hit-and-run motorcycle accident near Capital Centre in South B, Nairobi. His death left the constituency without representation for nearly two years now.
In Magarini Constituency, the seat became vacant in March 2024 after the High Court annulled the election of MP Harrison Kombe.
The court found that there were serious irregularities and alleged manipulation of the 2022 general election results, leading to the nullification.
Meanwhile, in Ugunja Constituency, the seat was declared vacant after the then-MP Opiyo Wandayi was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum in July 2024. Since his appointment, the constituency has been left without an MP.
A similar situation occurred in Gwassi Constituency, where John Mbadi, the area MP, was picked to serve as the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury. His appointment, also made in July 2024, left the seat vacant and awaiting a by-election.
More recently, Malava Constituency lost its MP, Malulu Injendi, who passed away on February 17, 2025. His death added to the growing list of areas without representation in the National Assembly.
Another constituency expected to go to the polls is Mbeere North in Embu County. Their MP, Geoffrey Ruku, was recently appointed by President William Ruto to serve as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programmes. His new position automatically created a vacancy in the National Assembly.
As the IEBC prepares for a new leadership team, Kenyans in these constituencies and wards are hoping that by-elections will be prioritized so they can once again have leaders representing their interests at both county and national levels.
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