Erastus Ethekon has been approved by the National Assembly as the new IEBC Chairperson. Photo: Citizen Digital.
The National Assembly has approved the names of all seven nominees by President William Ruto to spearhead activities and the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC), on June, Wednesday, 4.
The seven nominees, Dr Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, Fahima Araphat Abdallah, will be under the leadership of Erastus Ethekon, who has been approved as the commission’s chairperson, replacing the late Wafula Chebukati.
However, the seven new IEBC team members will have to wait for a decision from High Court, before they are sworn in to resume office, after two petitioners activist Boniface Mwangi and Kelvin Omondi, filed a case challenging the process.
According to the two petitioners, the selection process contravened the laws of the 2010 Constitution, failing to consider regional balance, terming the process unconstitutional as it further excludes persons with disabilities, and was made without consulting the opposition violating the Constitution, the IEBC (Amendment) Act, and recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee Report.
They had however expressed their fears following the process to proceed by the National Assembly despite of violation of the constitution. The two had sought the help of the court to stop the vetting, approval and swearing of the nominees.
Earlier Kimilili legislator Didmus Barasa had said that they will approve the report by the Justice and Legal committee after vetting and approving the seven nominees, for the commission to start preparing the 2027 General Elections.
He also said some constituencies in the country have remained without representation in the national Assembly for more than two years after a number of MPs died like Kasipul and Malava, Magarini where the court overturned the winning of Hassan Kombe in May 2024, among those constituencies left vacant after their MPS were nominated to various positions.
The legislators had congratulated the seven nominees after approving their names, expressing their confidence on them delivering their mandate to the people of Kenya.
They also refuted claims raised a section of Kenyans about close association of the new chair Ethekon with former Turkana governor Josephat Nanok, as Ethekon has the right to choose who he associates with.
