The Supreme Court of Kenya has issued a stern warning against the politicization of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), emphasizing the need for leaders to protect institutions rather than undermine them for short-term political gain. The Court also advised that the IEBC cannot undertake crucial boundary delimitation without a fully constituted commission.

• The Supreme Court highlighted a recurring trust deficit in Kenya’s electoral processes, stemming from decades of politicization and attacks on IEBC’s independence.
• The judges clarified that boundary delimitation is a constitutional mandate strictly reserved for Commissioners under Article 88(4)(c) of the Constitution and cannot be delegated to the Secretariat.
• The Court ruled that while boundary delimitation should ideally occur every 8 to 12 years and be completed at least 12 months before a General Election, only Parliament can extend these timelines through a constitutional amendment or resolution due to extraordinary circumstances like prolonged commissioner vacancies.