A leadership crisis is unfolding in the country as four constituencies and one county remain without representation in their respective legislative bodies.

The delay in holding by-elections has been attributed to the lack of a functional Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which has been unable to conduct the necessary polls due to the absence of a quorum.

Four constituencies and one senatorial have been left vacant due to the deaths and other factors.

Other seats remain unfilled following the appointment of elected leaders to President William Ruto’s cabinet, as well as court rulings nullifying previous elections.

Malava Constituency

Malava Constituency is also without a representative after the death of Member of Parliament Moses Malulu Injendi.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced that Injendi passed away on February 16, 2025, while receiving treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.

Injendi, who was serving his third term in parliament, was the vice chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Education and Research. His passing has left a legislative gap in the western Kenyan constituency.

Ugunja Constituency

Ugunja residents have been without an MP since July 2024, when James Opiyo Wandayi resigned from his seat to join President Ruto’s cabinet.

Wandayi was nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum on July 23, 2024, and was sworn into office on August 8, 2024.

His departure created a vacancy that has yet to be filled due to the delays in the by-election process.

Banisa Constituency

Banisa Constituency in Mandera County has been without an MP for nearly a year following the death of Hassan Kulo.

The second-term lawmaker died in March 2024 after sustaining injuries in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident near Capital Centre in South B, Nairobi.

Kulo succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital ICU.

National Assembly Speaker Wetang’ula declared the seat vacant in April 2024, but a by-election has not yet been held.

Magarini Constituency

In Magarini Constituency, voters remain without a representative after the Supreme Court nullified the election of MP Harrison Garama Kombe.

On May 31, 2024, a five-judge bench upheld a previous ruling that found electoral malpractices in the 2022 election.

The petition was filed by Stanley Kenga Karisa, a former deputy speaker of the Kilifi County Assembly.

Karisa, who ran on President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, lost to Kombe by just 21 votes. The court’s ruling left the seat vacant, pending a by-election.

Baringo County

Baringo County has been without a senator since February 16, 2025, following the death of William Cheptumo.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi confirmed that Cheptumo passed away while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital.

Cheptumo, who was serving his first term as senator after defeating KANU’s Gideon Moi in the 2022 General Elections, was a key figure in the county’s political landscape.

His death has left Baringo residents without representation in the Senate.