The recent protests against the Finance Bill have reignited the debate over the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has stressed the electorate’s right to recall Members of Parliament who they believe failed them during the Finance Bill discussions.
Canon Chris Kinyanjui, the Secretary General of the NCCK, voiced his dissatisfaction with the delays in reconstituting the IEBC, considering it a significant barrier to the process of 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.
The recent protests against the Finance Bill have sparked a renewed debate on reconstituting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) highlighted the electorate’s right to recall Members of Parliament who they believe failed them during the Finance Bill debate.
“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 cautioned MPs against prioritizing their interests over those of their constituents, urging them to consider the people’s needs when passing bills in Parliament. This call for action comes amid widespread protests across the country, where properties belonging to MPs who voted in favor 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. Additionally, the NCCK 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.
