Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has dismissed claims that President William Ruto is responsible for delays in reconstituting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), attributing the setbacks to ongoing court cases.
Speaking during an interdenominational prayer service in Cheptais, Bungoma County, Mudavadi urged those who have filed court cases against the constitution of the IEBC to withdraw them to allow the process to move forward.
“People are talking and the things they are saying are not true. They are saying the President is the one behind the delays,” said Mudavadi. “The President is a person who cannot break the law. Those who went to court should be blamed for the delays.”
Mudavadi emphasized that the legal disputes are impeding the government’s efforts to have a fully constituted electoral agency and called for an end to the impasse.
The remarks come against the backdrop of warnings from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) over a potential constitutional crisis. On January 14, 2025, LSK President Faith Odhiambo cautioned that delays in reconstituting the IEBC could plunge the country into a democratic crisis.
“The country risks breaching the Constitution due to the absence of a properly constituted electoral body,” said Odhiambo, urging swift resolution of the disputes.
She further called on the Judiciary to expedite the resolution of cases involving Dr. Augustus Muli and the Azimio la Umoja Coalition, which have reportedly contributed to the standoff.
The IEBC has faced significant challenges since the early 2023 exit of its chair and two commissioners, coupled with the removal of four commissioners in controversial circumstances. The delays in filling the vacancies have raised concerns over the country’s preparedness for upcoming electoral processes.
In December 2024, Mudavadi accused certain politicians of using the courts to frustrate the selection panel’s efforts, citing malice as their primary motive.
President William Ruto, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, and several lawmakers from the Western region attended the prayer service, which sought to rally the region’s leadership toward unity and development.