Residents of Banissa constituency in Garissa County took to the streets on Sunday to protest the year-long delay of a by-election, blaming Opposition Leader Raila Odinga for their predicament. The by-election was necessitated by the passing of their MP, Kullow Maalim Hassan, in March 2023.
Addressing the press they expressed frustration over the prolonged absence of representation in the National Assembly. According to them, the by-election, which should have been conducted within 90 days of the seat becoming vacant, was stalled due to disputes between the government and the opposition over the constitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“We expected the by-election to be held promptly as per our laws, but it did not happen because the IEBC is not fully constituted,” lamented one protester. “Our constitutional right to representation has been denied, and our hopes continue to diminish every day.”
The demonstrators pointed fingers specifically at Raila Odinga, accusing him of prolonging their suffering. They cited a High Court ruling three months ago that directed the current IEBC selection panel to appoint new commissioners and a chairperson, thus enabling them to carry out their mandate, including organizing the by-election for Banissa Constituency.
“After the High Court ruling in February cleared the way for the appointment of IEBC commissioners, Raila Odinga opposed the decision,” said another protester angrily. “His rejection of the court’s decision, coupled with demands unrelated to existing law, has been detrimental to the people of Banissa and Garissa at large.”
The protesters emphasized their frustration with the delay, underscoring that any obstruction to their right to representation is considered a betrayal to the entire nation.
Currently, the IEBC panel remains incomplete following the departure of Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and several commissioners. Efforts to complete the recruitment process are ongoing.
Kullow Maalim Hassan tragically passed away following a hit-and-run accident in Nairobi, further exacerbating the constituents’ need for timely representation in parliament.
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