President William Ruto has nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei in a statement on Thursday, May 8 said that President Ruto nominated Edung as the new IEBC Chairperson while also naming other members who have been nominated to serve as commissioners.
The members include Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
Further, Koskei said that the nominations have been transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament, in accordance with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act as well as the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Chapter 7F, Laws of Kenya).
“IN ITS SUBMISSION, the Selection Panel recommended two candidates for the position of Chairperson and nine candidates for consideration to fill six positions of Member of the Commission. Arising from these recommendations, the Head of State has nominated the following individuals for appointment as stated,” read part of the statement.
“IN RECOGNITION OF the indispensable role of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as one of the cornerstone institutions of our democracy and a custodian of electoral management, His Excellency the President has urged the National Assembly to prioritize the consideration of these nominations.”
While receiving the report on Wednesday, President Ruto commended the panel, chaired by Dr Nelson Makanda, for their commendable work.
The President while emphasising the importance of restoring the full functionality of the IEBC without delay affirmed that he would undertake his constitutional responsibilities by nominating the selected candidates and forwarding their names to the National Assembly for consideration.
“I commend the panel, chaired by Dr Nelson Makanda, for their diligent and commendable work. In accordance with the provisions of the IEBC Act, I will nominate and transmit the names to the National Assembly in full fidelity to the constitutional principles that guide our system of governance,” he said.
The IEBC has been without a fully constituted leadership since early 2023, following the expiration of the term of its previous chair, the late Wafula Chebukati, on January 17, 2023.
Chebukati’s tenure which began in 2017 under former President Uhuru Kenyatta was marked by significant controversy, particularly during the 2017 and 2022 general elections.
The 2017 election saw the Supreme Court of Kenya annul the presidential results due to irregularities leading to a rerun that opposition leader Raila Odinga boycotted.
The 2022 election, which brought Ruto to power, was equally contentious. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who lost to Ruto by a narrow margin, alleged electoral fraud, a claim that gained traction when four of the seven IEBC commissioners disowned the final results, citing a lack of transparency in the tallying process.
Chebukati, however, stood by the results, which were upheld by the Supreme Court, though this deepened public distrust in the electoral body.
The National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report released in November 2023, recommended a “restructuring and reconstitution” of the IEBC, including the appointment of a panel of experts to evaluate the 2022 electoral process and establish mechanisms for future elections.
The report set the stage for the formation of the IEBC Selection Panel, which has completed its recruitment process, culminating in the report handed to Ruto on Tuesday.
President Ruto’s nomination of the IEBC chairperson and members marks a critical step toward reconstituting the electoral body, which is essential for conducting by-elections and preparing for the 2027 general election.
