New IEBC List Brings Major Shakeup to Special Seats in Parliament and County Assemblies

Parliament: Treasury CS John Mbadi Replaced by Harold Kimuge Kipchumba

Perhaps the most headline-grabbing change is the replacement of John Mbadi, the long-serving ODM party chairman and newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury. Mbadi had been nominated to Parliament under the Workers’ category by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Following his exit to join the Cabinet, the IEBC has now confirmed that Harold Kimuge Kipchumba will take over his seat.

Kipchumba, also an ODM nominee, brings a fresh face to Parliament and will serve under the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) category.

This change complies with Article 90 of the Constitution, which mandates that special seats must be filled through proportional representation, and Section 37 of the Elections Act, which outlines procedures for replacing nominated members.

IEBC Chair Erastus Ethekon stated:
“The Commission is guided by law in filling any vacant nominated seat. Our responsibility is to promote inclusivity, equity, and transparency in every allocation.”

County Assemblies See Broad Changes Across Kenya

The ripple effects of the reallocation are more visible at the county level, where nine County Assemblies experienced changes to their nominated membership. These changes cut across a variety of special interest groups including Youth, PWDs, and Minority Communities, as outlined by the Constitution.

Here is a county-by-county breakdown of the changes:

Garissa County

• Outgoing: Abdi Gedi Adow (PWD category, UDA)

• Incoming: Dubat Abdikadir Adan (Youth category, UDA)

This change reflects a shift in party strategy, moving representation toward youth-focused leadership.

Murang’a County

• Outgoing: Wainaina Mark Gicheru

• Incoming: Kirumwa Peter Mbogo (UDA, Minority Groups)

Kirumwa is expected to be a strong voice for historically underrepresented communities in Murang’a.

Kiambu County

• Outgoing: Kihara Ezra Kabuga

• Incoming: Wainaina Lawrence Mburu (Youth category)

Wainaina's entry adds youthful representation to one of Kenya’s most politically active counties.

Taita Taveta County

• Outgoing: Constance Mwandawiro

• Incoming: Ann Wambui Mukuru (Wiper Party)

This move keeps Wiper’s representation intact, while opening opportunities for fresh political engagement in the coastal county.

Makueni County

• Outgoing: Magdalene Kamene Nguluku

• Incoming: Esther Mwongeli (Maendeleo Chap Chap)

The party has expressed confidence that Mwongeli will represent gender and youth concerns effectively.

Nyandarua County

• Outgoing: Beth Wahito Njoroge

• Incoming: Jane Gathira Njoroge (UDA)

Despite sharing surnames, the two are not related. Jane brings a strong background in grassroots mobilization.

Kirinyaga County

• Outgoing: Pauline Wairimu Kamau

• Incoming: Chege Flasia Nduta (UDA)

Nduta is known for her work with youth and women’s groups in central Kenya.

Kakamega County (Double Replacement – ODM)

• Phaustine Werimo → Lucy Kendi Khayadi

• Godliver Omondi → Linet Wanga Imbayi

ODM emphasized that these changes reflect internal realignments rather than disciplinary actions. Both new members have served in party youth wings and community organizations.

Legal Basis for the Reallocation

The reallocation follows a structured legal process backed by multiple statutes:

• Article 90 of the Constitution: Mandates proportional representation of special interest groups.

• Elections Act, Section 37: Guides the process of filling vacant special seats.

• IEBC Act: Grants the Commission the mandate to gazette new members and verify legitimacy of party lists.

These laws ensure that any shift in representation is legitimate, transparent, and aligned with the constitutional principles of equity and diversity.

Why It Matters: Deeper Political and Social Implications

1. Political Stability

By acting swiftly and transparently, the IEBC helps prevent long-term political voids in both national and county governance. These replacements ensure that all counties and interest groups remain represented.

2. Gender & Diversity Balance

With the new appointments, Kenya maintains its ongoing efforts to enhance youth, gender, and PWD representation—a constitutional requirement and social goal.

3. Party Discipline and Strategy

Parties such as ODM, UDA, and Wiper are using these vacancies to reposition loyalists, reward grassroots mobilizers, and balance demographic outreach, especially with 2027 in mind.

4. Rebuilding IEBC’s Public Trust

This is the first major reallocation under the restructured IEBC led by Chair Erastus Ethekon, and it may signal the Commission’s readiness to handle upcoming by-elections, court-ordered repeat polls, and the continuous voter registration process.

What’s Next?

The IEBC is reportedly preparing for 23 upcoming by-elections, including:

• 1 Senate seat

• 6 National Assembly seats

• 16 County Assembly positions

With political campaigns already heating up in some affected regions, these reassignments could trigger new political alliances, local rivalries, and voter engagement dynamics.

Final Word from IEBC

“These appointments are about service, not power. We urge all new members to uphold the Constitution and serve Kenyans with integrity.”
— IEBC Chair, Erastus Ethekon

KBN Editorial: What This Tells Us About Kenya’s Democracy

Kenya’s party list system may still face operational hurdles, but IEBC’s latest move shows its ability to correct course when necessary. This moment serves as a reminder of the importance of political inclusion, procedural accuracy, and upholding constitutional values—even in the face of political pressure.

As the country heads into the mid-term period ahead of 2027, these shifts could be the start of a broader realignment in Kenyan politics, especially for special interest group representation.