President William Ruto has appointed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC selection panel to begin the recruitment of IEBC commissioners. The appointment comes barely a few days after the court order was removed.
Through the gazette notice dated 27th January 2025, the President appointed the following to spearhead the IEBC selection panel. The members include; Kiome Lindah Gakii, Oloo Adams, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Ambassador Koki Muli Grignon, Carolene Kituku, Tanui Andrew Kipkoech, Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman.
The Head of State further revoked an earlier notice of selection panel appointments that had been Gazetted in 2023. The nine appointed panelists later on took the oath of office at the Supreme Court Building in Nairobi in the morning, an event that was presided over by the Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Under the political parties liaison committee [PPLC] the majority coalition, the minority coalition and the non-parliamentary parties were to select one candidate each.
Mr. Evans Masiti was picked on-behalf of the non-parliamentary parties, while Mr. Nicodemus Bore was chosen to represent the majority party.
For the minority coalition, Dr. Augustus Muli was elected defeating Wiper Party’s Dr. Koki Muli in an election over the IEBC.
Further, Dr Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman, who were on the previous selection panel have been retained by the new appointment under the inter-religious council, while Andrew Kipkoech Tanui was selected by the institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.
The Law Society of Kenya and The Parliamentary Service Commission has got one and two representatives respectively.
The nominees are Ms. Caroline Kituku, Prof. Adams Oloo and Ms. Linda Kiome.
The selection panel has a period of 90 days to recruit the chairman and the commissioners of IEBC that will be mandated to oversee the August 2027 general elections.
Following the gazettement of the members of the IEBC Selection Panel by the President H.E William Samoei Ruto on Monday morning, the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula made a communication to the Secretary of the Parliamentary Service Commission, Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye to put in place all the necessary arrangements required to facilitate the work of the panel as obligated by the law.
He said that the Act obligates the Commission to provide secretariat services, facilities to the panel and to meet its expenditure.
In his communiqué he urged the Selection Panel to expedite and conclude the recruitment process of the IEBC commissioners, at the earliest available opportunity in accordance with the law.
