NCCK urges swift reconstitution of IEBC to empower electorates in MP recall efforts

The recent protests against the Finance Bill have ignited a fresh debate on the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) with the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) emphasizing the electorate's right to recall their Members of Parliament whom they feel failed them during the Finance Bill debate.

Canon Chris Kinyanjui, the Secretary General of the NCCK, expressed dissatisfaction with the delays in reconstituting the IEBC, viewing it as a significant obstacle to recalling underperforming parliamentarians.

“It is the right of the voters to recall their MPs and without IEBC, it won’t be possible. That is why I am calling all the stakeholders including the young people to push for the reconstitution of the IEBC as soon as yesterday,” said Mr. Kinyanjui.

"Reconstitution of the IEBC is the only way we can use to recall some of the MPs who supported the Finance Bill, yet the voters told them not to do that," he reiterated.

The NCCK also warned MPs against prioritizing their interests over those of their constituents and urged them to consider the people's needs when passing bills in parliament.

This call for action comes amid widespread protests in various parts of the country, where properties belonging to MPs who voted in favour of the controversial Finance Bill 2024 have been vandalized and torched.

One notable incident involved the home of Molo MP and Chair of the National Assembly Finance Committee, Kimani Kuria, which was vandalized and torched by angry protesters.

The NCCK further announced stringent measures to curb political activities within church settings, particularly the practice of distributing money in places of worship.

"We don't want them (politicians) to be allowed to speak inside the congregation of the church," stated Mr. Kinyanjui.

Regarding the anti-Finance Bill protests, the NCCK condemned the police for teargassing peaceful demonstrators and urged law enforcement to uphold Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution by providing security during protests.

The Council also appealed to all three branches of government and the police to fulfil their roles responsibly to prevent further overreach.