Parliament could be setting the stage for fresh electoral uncertainty by taking too long to deal with pending changes to election laws, former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has warned.
Muturi has challenged Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and lawmakers to conclude the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) gets deeper into preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The Democratic Party of Kenya leader said the outstanding legislation should not be left unresolved as the country approaches another election, particularly with major decisions on technology and procurement expected to be made.
In a statement issued through his official X account on Friday, August 28, 2026, Muturi said Parliament already understands the risks posed by leaving electoral laws unsettled.
He said the delay could affect not only the IEBC’s preparations but also public confidence in the electoral process.
“This is not routine parliamentary procrastination; in my considered view, it amounts to electoral sabotage,” Muturi said.
He called for the pending amendments to be brought before the National Assembly, debated and completed without further delays.
According to Muturi, the House leadership has a responsibility to ensure that the legal framework governing the next election is clear before critical procurement decisions are made.
“The National Assembly leadership, particularly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, knows the gravity of election-related legislation and understands that uncertainty over the legal framework can undermine public confidence, IEBC preparedness, procurement and ultimately the credibility of the electoral process,” he stated.
Muturi further urged Wetang’ula and lawmakers to act before election technology contracts are awarded, saying Parliament must first resolve questions surrounding technology, procurement and intellectual-property rights.
“We call upon the Speaker and all Wantam Members of Parliament to demand that the pending amendments be tabled, debated and concluded immediately. Questions relating to electoral technology, procurement and intellectual-property rights must be settled before contracts are awarded and before the country enters the final stages of election preparation.”
Technology and procurement concerns
The former Speaker has placed particular focus on the rules governing election technology and the procurement of systems that will be used during the 2027 polls.
He wants Parliament to settle the outstanding legal questions before the IEBC commits to major technology contracts, arguing that procurement should not run ahead of the law.
Muturi raised the same concern earlier this week when he asked Parliament to deal with the Bill before the electoral commission proceeds with a pending technology tender contract.
He said allowing procurement to continue while legal questions remain unsettled could create problems later in the election process.
His warning comes as the IEBC moves towards the demanding phase of preparing for the 2027 election, including procurement, testing and deployment of election technology.
Muturi also cautioned that failure to act could have consequences well beyond the walls of Parliament.
“Let nobody say they were not warned,” he said.
He argued that State institutions must meet their constitutional responsibilities and address legal uncertainties before they become a source of conflict.
Muturi said rebuilding public confidence after trust in an electoral process has been lost can be difficult, while maintaining peace becomes harder once disputes escalate.
Several election-related Bills published in 2024 have already gone through the Senate and were forwarded to the National Assembly, but remain pending.
The proposed changes cover areas such as electoral technology, election offences, political parties and other sections of the electoral framework.
2023 protests
Muturi also brought up the unrest witnessed in 2023, saying the events should serve as a warning to institutions handling electoral matters.
He said the demonstrations were driven by various grievances, including calls for accountability and concerns over electoral technology and intellectual-property rights.
According to Muturi, nearly 100 people died during the unrest.
“In 2023, Kenyans took to the streets demanding, among other things, accountability and clarity on issues surrounding electoral technology and intellectual-property rights, and nearly 100 lives were lost in the ensuing unrest,” Muturi said.
He warned that carrying unresolved questions into the 2027 election could expose the country to a more serious crisis.
For Muturi, the deaths recorded during the unrest should push Parliament to resolve electoral concerns before another election dispute takes shape.
Court weighs in on pending Bill
Pressure on Parliament to finish the reforms has also grown as the country approaches the 2027 polls.
The IEBC has previously cautioned that major electoral law changes made too close to an election can interfere with planning and procurement because preparations must follow strict timelines.
The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has also been challenged in court.
In July, the High Court declined a petition that sought to force Parliament to enact legislation giving effect to the constitutional right to recall MPs.
The court instead held that Parliament should be given room to complete its consideration of the pending Bill.
The responsibility now remains with Parliament to conclude the legislative process and determine the final form and scope of the proposed electoral changes.