Mungatana warns boundary review delays by IEBC put 2027 elections at risk

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has cautioned that delays in reviewing constituency and ward boundaries could pose serious risks ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, he emphasised that timely action is crucial to prevent legal and administrative challenges.

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“Article 88 of the Constitution gives the IEBC the sole mandate to delimit or amend boundaries, while Article 89 fixes the number of constituencies at 290,” Mungatana said.

“We cannot just increase or reduce that number, but we can adjust boundaries based on population, topography, and community interests. These are real issues that affect real people, and they must be handled carefully.”

Legal and political risks

The senator highlighted the risks of leaving the review pending. “If the IEBC does not act within the stipulated timelines, it risks facing court challenges,” he explained.

“This isn’t hypothetical; delays could spark disputes over representation, resource allocation, and voter registration. Communities need clarity, and the law must protect them.”

Mungatana reflected on the long and intense process during the drafting of the 2010 Constitution, noting that even agreeing on the number of counties had been a difficult period.

“We learned that delays in these processes create tension and uncertainty. The same care and planning are needed now to ensure a smooth path toward the 2027 elections,” he said.

Need for compliance

He urged institutions, including the IEBC and Parliament, to show they are taking proactive steps. “Start the processes, prepare the budgets, hold public participation forums, and engage communities.

Even if everything cannot be completed immediately due to logistical or financial constraints, showing clear effort matters,” Mungatana said.

He added that members of Parliament and Senate clerks must also cooperate to ensure any necessary constitutional amendments or extensions are addressed in time.

“It’s a complex process, but ignoring it now could lead to bigger problems later,” he warned.

Parliamentary concerns

Mungatana’s remarks come months after members of Parliament raised concerns over the stalled review of constituency and ward boundaries.

A report by the Public Petitions Committee instructed the commission to prioritise the overdue delimitation in line with Article 89(4) of the Constitution, which requires boundary reviews every 8–12 years.

The last review was conducted in 2012, with the next originally due by March 2024, but the process stalled following the exit of commissioners in January 2023.