What can be done to end trust deficit in agencies such as IEBC

Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Dr. Erastus Edung Ethekon during the swearing in of the commission at Supreme Court on July 11, 2025. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]

Kenya’s 2010 Constitution marked a radical break from the authoritarian legacies of the past. It was more than a legal document, it was a vision for societal transformation. At its core lies the doctrine of transformative constitutionalism, which calls for the reordering of power relations between the state and the people.

This concept requires more than just changing laws. It demands the creation of robust institutions that embed values of accountability, inclusion, and justice into the architecture of governance. In this constitutional vision, institutions are not meant to serve individuals or interests, but to realise enduring ideals that outlast any regime.