US Ambassador Whitman meet IEBC CEO, pledge support to commissioners deficient body
US Ambassador to Kenya Her Excellency Margaret Cunning Whitman popularly known as Meg Whitman on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 visited the commissioners deficient Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and pledged support ahead of the 2027 presidential polls.
Whitman met with the IEBC Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein Marjan and promised to continue supporting the body’s mandate.
In a statement, Whitman said the US will continue to support the IEBC’s efforts in fulfilling its mandate to deliver free, fair, inclusive and transparent elections.
This comes at a time the commission is incapable of conducting elections leaving electorates unrepresented due to its lack of commissioners.
IEBC became dysfunctional when three of its remaining commissioners Abdi Guliye, Boya Molu and Chairman Wafula Chebukati retired in 2023, leaving the CEO whose mandate is to supervise and perform strictly secretariat duties.
“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 Kenya.” Whitman said.
The retirement came after four other commissioners of the electoral body; Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya resigned from the IEBC following the disputed 2022 General elections where the cited irregularities.
Several regions remain unrepresented following the row at IEBC including Magarini constituency where the results were nullified and Banisa Constituency where the sitting MP was killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident.
Several other regions including the Ugunja constituency remain unrepresented given the incapacity of the IEBC to conduct elections due to the lack of commissioners.
There are seven pending by-elections in various counties following the deaths of the MCAs elected during the 2022 general election.
While President William Ruto signed into law the new IEBC Act to set rolling the appointment of a selection panel responsible for choosing commissioners, a petition would be filed in court, halting the process altogether.
Several leaders including protesting Gen Zs had called for the speedy reconstitution of the IEBC to carry out their electoral functions.
During the Wednesday meeting, Marjan noted that the US as a development partner has been instrumental through its donations and stated that budgetary constraints were still hampering the electoral body in its bid to carry out its mandate effectively.
“We appreciate all development partners and donors for the tremendous support given to the IEBC before, during and after the 2022 General Election. The Commission is confronted with numerous challenges, including budgetary constraints that are hampering its operations.” Marjan observed.
