Leaders from Mandera county have vowed to push for an amendment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, to allow Banissa constituency have a by-election.
The constituency has been without an MP since March this year following the death of MP Kulow Hassan.
Hassan died after he was hit by a motorbike on March 25, 2023, in Nairobi.
IEBC CEO Marjan Marjan last week told parliament they will not be able to conduct by-election for Banissa owing to the delayed recruitment of new commissioners
Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif said further delays in conducting the by-election will cause distress among constituents.
He spoke yesterday in Guba Ward during a meet the people tour which brought together all county leaders.
“All we are saying is that the people of Banissa Constituency have been deprived of, a person of their choice to represent their interests in the national assembly in line with Articles 94 and 95 of the Constitution," said Khalif.
"We want the process expedited to enable them have an MP like all the other constituencies."
Crucial operations at the electoral agency came to a standstill following the retirement of former chairman Wafula Chebukati and ex-commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Mulu in January after serving their six-year non-renewal term.
Mandera North MP, Bashir Abdullahi said the situation needs to be corrected as soon as possible.
He said they have garnered substantial support from fellow pastoralist MPs to have IEBC Act amended for the by-election to proceed.
Mandera Senator Ali Roba he will also assist in expediting the process in his capacity as a senator and UDM party leader.
In April 21st National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula declared a vacancy in the Banissa constituency seat paving way for a by-election.
In August, an activist moved to court seeking orders to have the electoral body conduct a by-election for Banissa within 30 days.
Banissa voter Brian Mbugua sought the court’s intervention over the continuous delay by IEBC, the Attorney General and the National Assembly to conduct a by-election in the constituency.
Meanwhile Khalif praised the county meetings that have helped Mandera leaders deal with pressing issues in the county.
“We have so far had the opportunity of engaging with government officials and community representatives to discuss and address pressing issues affecting the sub-counties," he said.
"We have met healthcare professionals and gained insights into the healthcare challenges facing the region which we will address going forward."
