President William Ruto has officially appointed selection panel members tasked with recruiting nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The appointed panel members include Prof. Adams Oloo, Dr. Nelson Makanda, Fatuma Saman, Amb. Koki Muli, Evans Misati, Nicodemus Bore Kipchirchir, Andrew Tanui Kipkoech, Carolene Kituku, and Linda Kiome Gakii.
In a gazette notice dated January 27, 2025, the president revoked the appointments of previous panel members selected in 2020. The move comes amidst mounting pressure for the president to expedite the establishment of the IEBC selection panel, with critics alleging interference with independent institutions and delays in instituting necessary electoral reforms.
Speaking on the matter, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka highlighted concerns about the IEBC Secretariat, claiming malpractice in its operations. “On Monday, we hope to come up with an obvious statement about what is happening. In the meantime, within the IEBC Secretariat itself, terrible things are going on, like procurement. They are testing the grounds,” Kalonzo said over the weekend.
Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni argued that the timely establishment of a functional IEBC could help Kalonzo Musyoka secure the presidency in the next general election. Similarly, DAP-Kenya Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa criticized the government for delaying the reconstitution of the electoral body, stating that nearly four years had passed since the current administration assumed office without progress on this critical issue.
The High Court provided the green light for the appointments after dismissing a petition challenging the constitution of the selection panel. The Kiambu High Court, led by Lady Justice Dola Chepkwony, ruled against petitioner Bonface Njogu, who argued that persons living with disabilities had been excluded from the panel. The judge determined that the petitioner failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the claim.
Additionally, Justice Chepkwony dismissed a petition challenging the nomination process conducted by the Azimio coalition. She ruled that the claim, that Azimio had not conducted a competitive and open recruitment process was unsubstantiated.
The president’s move to establish the panel marks a critical step toward addressing concerns about electoral preparedness as Kenya gears up for future elections. However, the process continues to draw significant scrutiny from political leaders and stakeholders in the country.