Former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has called for the immediate resignation of the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Moses Ledama Sunkuli, citing serious concerns over the integrity of the voter registration process.
Muturi said the concerns stem from what he described as growing irregularities in voter data, warning that such discrepancies risk undermining confidence in the country electoral system. His remarks add to increasing scrutiny surrounding the commission handling of voter records and its preparedness for future elections.
He pointed to a specific case involving his driver, Bernard Munene wa Gatama, who was initially registered as a voter in 2012 at Kavengero Polling Station. However, a recent verification revealed that Gatama had been reassigned to Newsite Kiambere in Mbeere South without his knowledge or consent.
According to Muturi, the unexplained transfer directly affected Gatama participation in the recent Mbeere North by-election, where he was deemed ineligible to vote due to the change in polling station allocation.
Muturi questioned how such a change could occur without the voter involvement, saying the case reflects broader systemic weaknesses in the management of voter data.
Call for accountability and urgent electoral reforms
He argued that the incident is not isolated but part of wider concerns that have been raised by political parties, civil society organisations and citizens over the past 12 months regarding voter registration, data management and transparency.
Muturi said the resignation of former IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein was not sufficient to address the challenges facing the commission, insisting that Sunkuli must also take responsibility and step down.
He accused the commission of failing to respond adequately to repeated concerns, stating that reports of discrepancies in voter records, including unexplained changes in polling station allocations, continue to emerge.
The former Speaker issued a 14-day ultimatum to the commission to convene a National Electoral Consultative Forum bringing together key stakeholders, including political parties, religious leaders, civil society groups, independent ICT experts and the media.
He said the forum would provide an opportunity to address systemic issues and restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Muturi also called for an independent audit of the voter register and all supporting digital systems, emphasizing the need for full public disclosure of safeguards governing voter registration kits and data management processes.
Additionally, he urged the commission to establish a transparent mechanism that would allow citizens to verify and correct their voter details easily and in a timely manner.
He warned that failure by the commission to act within the stipulated 14 days would prompt him to initiate lawful and constitutional measures aimed at compelling accountability and protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
Muturi stressed that electoral credibility remains central to national stability, cautioning that lapses in managing voter data could have far-reaching consequences for the country democratic processes.
He concluded by stating that the era of casual handling of electoral matters must come to an end, as Kenya prepares for future elections under increasing public scrutiny.
