5 constituencies set for by-elections after court clears IEBC team
By Martin Oduor, July 11, 2025After years of a debilitating leadership vacuum at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), a fully constituted electoral body is finally in place, paving the way for long-overdue by-elections in at least five constituencies.
The absence of a functional IEBC has left thousands of Kenyans without direct parliamentary representation, but that chapter is now set to close.
The electoral body has been mired in uncertainty since the contentious August 2022 presidential election.
The dispute led to the dramatic exit of four commissioners, famously known as the “Cherera Four” – Juliana Cherera, Francis Wandera, Irene Masit, and Justus Nyang’aya – who publicly disputed the presidential results announced by then-IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Chebukati himself, along with commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye, retired, further deepening the leadership void.
The prolonged institutional limbo hindered crucial electoral processes, including the timely conduct of by-elections mandated by law when a parliamentary seat falls vacant.
Despite President William Ruto signing the IEBC (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on July 9, 2024, setting the stage for new appointments, legal challenges and procedural hurdles prolonged the wait.
However, a High Court ruling on Thursday, July 10, 2025, finally provided the breakthrough.
The three-judge bench dismissed petitions challenging the suitability of the new nominees, clearing the path for their formal appointment.
Capitalising on this, President Ruto swiftly moved to correct a previous procedural misstep, re-gazetting the appointments on Thursday evening.
Erastus Edung Ethekon now assumes the critical role of IEBC Chairperson, leading a newly constituted team of six commissioners: Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
Each will serve a six-year term.
With the IEBC now fully operational, the focus immediately shifts to the constituencies that have been without representation for months, some for over a year.
These pending by-elections represent a crucial step towards restoring full democratic representation across the country.
Here are the five constituencies where residents can now anticipate the call to the ballot:
Ugunja constituency, Siaya county
This seat fell vacant in July 2024 when its immediate former MP, James Opiyo Wandayi, resigned from Parliament to take up a significant Cabinet role as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy.
Mbeere North constituency, Embu county
Voters here have been without an MP since Geoffrey Ruku vacated his seat in March 2025 after his nomination and subsequent approval as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programmes.
Kasipul constituency, Homa Bay county
The assassination of MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was tragically shot on April 30, 2025, left this constituency without its representative.
Banissa constituency, Mandera county
This arid region lost its MP, Kulow Maalim Hassan, who died from a hit‑and‑run accident in Nairobi on March 28, 2023, necessitating a by-election.
Magarini constituency, Kilifi county
Unlike the others, this vacancy arose from a court nullification of the 2022 general election results for the constituency, meaning the previous MP’s victory was overturned due to irregularities.
The High Court first invalidated the August 9, 2022, Magarini parliamentary result on March 3, 2023, citing irregularities and illegalities
The Supreme Court upheld the nullification on May 31, 2024, confirming both the High Court and the Court of Appeal rulings.
The MP for Magarini constituency before the court nullification was Harrison Garama Kombe of ODM, who held the seat following the August 2022 election.
The way forward
The impending by-elections will be the first major task for the newly constituted IEBC, a critical test of its ability to manage electoral processes efficiently and transparently after a period of prolonged instability.
For the residents of these five constituencies, it signifies the long-awaited return of their voice in the National Assembly.