Following the death of the former Kenema District Council Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Amadu Sesay, who died on Tuesday, 6th August 2024, at the Kenema Government Hospital, there was a legal dispute as to whether the Deputy District Council Chairman is eligible to assume the office of the District Chairman or a byelection be conducted to fill the vacancy.

The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, responsible to conduct elections in the country, had initially planned out the conduction of bye-elections to elect the new Kenema District Council Chairman; however, the judiciary of Sierra Leone, with the power to interpret laws in Sierra Leone, ruled otherwise.

On October 23rd, 2024, ECSL issued a press statement announcing the cancellation of bye-elections for the Kenema District Council. This decision was made after the High Court of Sierra Leone granted the Deputy District Council Chairman the legal authority to take over as District Council Chairman of the Kenema District.