National Assembly Majority Leader Junet Mohamed has called for Members of Parliament who abandon the political parties under which they were elected to be recalled, reviving debate on legislation to give voters the power to remove elected representatives.
Speaking in Parliament, Junet said the Constitution provides for the recall of MPs but lawmakers had failed to enact legislation to guide the process since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
“Let us first be clear. The matter that we are dealing with is a constitutional matter. It is the Constitution that provided, that brought the provisions of recall,” he said.
He said Parliament was expected to develop legislation spelling out how voters could initiate and complete the recall of their representatives.
“Members of Parliament, since the new Constitution, have been hiding to implement this matter,” he said.
Junet argued that elected leaders should remain faithful to the political parties and principles on which they sought and won electoral mandates, criticising those who change political allegiance after securing seats.
“Members are elected by their constituents on certain parties, on certain principles. They come to Nairobi here, they change their principles,” he said.
He cited the emergence of new political parties as an example of the shifting allegiances, arguing that leaders who abandon their original political affiliations should face recall.
“Those people must be recalled,” he said.
The remarks come as political parties and movements reorganise ahead of the 2027 General Election, with emerging outfits seeking to attract supporters and elected leaders from established parties.
One of the latest entrants is The Equitable Party (TEP), which was unveiled as a political vehicle for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi Movement on October 4, 2026.
The party's leadership made room for Sifuna and his allies after its founding officials agreed to restructure the outfit, with Sifuna named party leader and preferred presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party's emergence followed months of political mobilisation by the Linda Mwananchi Movement, whose leaders have held rallies across several counties while campaigning for changes in the country's leadership and governance.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale claimed that TEP attracted more than one million members within hours of its unveiling.
Another relatively new political outfit is the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which was registered in February 2025, and unveiled by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in May 2025.
DCP has since attracted politicians previously associated with other parties, including the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The developments is part of the changing political landscape as parties seek to consolidate their support bases, recruit candidates and position themselves for the next General Election.
However, the constitutional provision on recall remains without an operational legal framework. In July 2025, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said there was no enabling legislation to facilitate the recall of MPs and senators, despite Article 104 of the Constitution providing for the right of voters to recall their elected representatives.
The commission said it stood ready to facilitate the process once the necessary legal framework was in place.
