Government Defends Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill

The Government defended the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in Parliament on Wednesday, highlighting the Election and Boundaries Commission’s statutory role, provisions allowing independent candidates to contest local government elections, and measures addressing situations in which councillors or aldermen change their political allegiance while in office.

While introducing Bill, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen maintained that the Bill does not interfere with the independence or statutory role of the Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC).

She said the EBC will retain responsibility for carrying out its statutory duties, including the management of electoral districts, the administration of elections and the preparation of the list of aldermen.