Wetang'ula says Parliament will fast-track election laws ahead of 2027 elections

Committee on Appointments Chair National Assembly's Speaker Moses Wetangula during the vetting of CSs at the Mini Chambers, County Hall, Nairobi. January 14th,2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang'ula, has promised that Parliament will review and pass all election-related bills ahead of the 2027 General Election. He explained that this is to ensure the readiness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to run the elections. Wetang'ula made the remarks when he met Charge d'Affaires ad interim at the British High Commission, Ed Barnett, where he said Parliament will not allow delays that undermine electoral credibility. "Election-related amendments don't originate from us, but as House leadership, we've resolved that within the next two to three months, we'll be done with them. We cannot be reviewing laws six or seven months before a general election," the Speaker said. He acknowledged that restoring public trust in the IEBC is still a work in progress and urged the new commission to intensify public engagement to dispel fears and rebuild confidence. "The public has high expectations ahead of the upcoming by-elections. The pressure will be immense, but the chairperson and commissioners must remain firm," he said. With the constitutional boundary review now out of reach due to time and budgetary limits, Wetang'ula challenged the IEBC to focus on registering millions of unlisted voters to boost participation in 2027. "By not voting, you lose the moral ground to make demands on elected leaders. Let's respect the sanctity of building a nation and strengthen credibility in our institutions," he said. As of October 8, the continuous voter registration exercise had recorded 20,754 new voters and transferred 3,207 others. "While we commend this progress, turnout among the targeted youth remains lower than expected. With a national target of 6.3 million new voters, the Commission urges all eligible Kenyans, particularly the youth, to take this opportunity to register and make their voices count in the 2027 General Election. IEBC calls upon all eligible citizens-especially young people who have recently attained voting age-to visit the nearest constituency office and register," IEBC stated. Barnett said the UK, through its non-state partners, is already supporting the IEBC's capacity-building efforts, including developing a robust strategic communication plan to enhance transparency, public trust, and the timely dissemination of electoral information. "We supported the induction of the new commissioners and will continue to channel our limited resources to strengthen their systems," the envoy said. As far as governance is concerned, the two leaders agreed that implementation of the newly enacted Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, is a crucial test for anti-corruption agencies, with Wetang'ula calling on the Judiciary to fast-track corruption cases, saying justice delayed erodes accountability. "The Judiciary must reduce the time it takes to conclude cases. Timelines should be set and respected," he emphasised. Their talks also focused on ways to transform the UK-Kenya relationship from one defined by aid to one grounded in trade and investment. Wetang'ula urged London to deepen private-sector engagement and explore new frontiers such as mining, especially with the discovery of rare earth deposits in Kenya. "The UK has been a dependable partner since independence. We now want to build a stronger trade partnership anchored on mutual growth," he said. Kenya is the UK's second-largest export destination in Africa, accounting for 27 per cent of fresh produce and 56 per cent of the black tea sold in the British market. However, Wetang'ula was concerned with the UK's stringent visa regime, which has locked out many Kenyans, including students seeking to pursue higher education abroad. "There are many students who wish to study in the UK, but the visa process is too complex. We should leverage our Commonwealth connection to ease this," he said. Barnett acknowledged the challenge and promised to work with Kenyan institutions to help applicants better navigate the system. He also conveyed his condolences to Kenyans following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and lauded the government for giving him a dignified farewell. Wetang'ula described the late Odinga as a statesman whose legacy of resilience and forgiveness should inspire the country. "Raila never carried grudges. After the fiercest political battles, he always put the country first," the Speaker said. The visit came as the nation marked the final day of the official seven-day mourning period for the late Raila, a revered freedom fighter and Pan-Africanist.

Wetang'ula says Parliament will fast-track election laws ahead of 2027 elections

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