- Narok Senator Ledama Olekina said MPs appointed to the Cabinet should continue to represent their constituents until elections are held
- According to Olekina, the absence of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) caused some areas to remain without representatives
- He gave the example of Ugunja constituency, which Opiyo Wandayi represented before he was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Energy
Nairobi: Senator of Narok Ledama Olekina has spoken about the negative effects of the country not having a functioning Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Source: UGC
Why should Opiyo Wandayi continue to represent Ugunja?
He gave the example of Ugunja constituency, which Opiyo Wandayi represented before he was appointed minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Energy to continue to carry out their legislative duties.
For example, Olekina said Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi should continue to perform his previous duties as a member of parliament for the Ugunja constituency.
According to the Narok senator, MPs appointed to the Cabinet should be allowed to continue representing their constituents until elections are held.
However, Olekina argued that the affected MPs should only be entitled to one salary.
“Since we don't have IEBC, those appointed to serve in the cabinet from parliament should technically be allowed to continue to represent their constituents until the elections are held. So Opiyo Wandayi residents of Ugunja, County Siaya they expect to represent them in parliament, not as a minority leader but as a member of parliament,” Olekina said.
Why can't IEBC hold by-elections?
Ugunja Constituency is one of the few electoral units without representation in Parliament or county assemblies due to the challenges faced IEBC.
According to the law, a commission without a quorum cannot organize elections or by-elections.
The thoughts of the Narok senator are based on the fact that the IEBC has no commissioners; therefore, the residents of Ugunja would be in a bad situation if they wait until the commission is properly constituted.
What are the responsibilities of IEBC?
The authority of the IEBC is specified in Article 88 of the Constitution Kenya and further defined in the IEBC Act.
According to the IEBC Act, the commission's primary authority includes election management, including organizing, conducting and managing elections for various positions.
The IEBC is also responsible for maintaining a complete and accurate voter register by registering eligible voters, updating the register of voters, and ensuring that the register is available and accurate.
Another important task is the demarcation of electoral boundaries, which involves regular review and revision of constituencies and ward boundaries to ensure they reflect demographic changes and maintain electoral fairness.
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