Erastus Ethekon has been approved by the National Assembly as the new IEBC Chairperson. Photo: Citizen Digital.
President William Ruto officially appointed Erastus Ethekon as the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a gazette notice dated June, Monday 10, Ruto also appointed six other commissioners Anne Nderitu, the Registrar of Political Parties, Moses Mukhwana, Mary Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo and Fahima Abdallah.
The new team is expected to serve the commission for a period of six years. Their appointment comes after the president nominated them on May, 8, and forwarded their names before the National Assembly for the vetting process.
Last week, the National Assembly Justice and Legal Committee approved the seven names of the appointees, who now wait for the swearing process, that has since been halted by a court order that stopped the swearing in process.
Two petitioners Boniface Mwangi and Kelvin Omondi, had filed a petition for conservatory order stopping the National Assembly from vetting and approving the names of the seven appointed commissioners, as the process was unconstitutional.
According to the two petitioners, the process failed to meet the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, that calls for regional balance, inclusion of persons living with disabilities (PWDs), as well as failure to include the opposition in the process, as required by the constitution.
However, their petition seemingly losing touch, as the whole process they faulted has gone through to the final stage until gazettement, which clearly indicates that the swearing in process will go through. This is not the first time the Kenya Kwanza regime is failing to obey the court orders, as the regime has been intentionally going against the court, on anything that is against their will.
However, the new commissioners come at a crucial time in the country, as political temperatures are high, and the country already in a campaign mood. During an interview in May, DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua, has cautioned the commissioners into manipulating the 2027 elections, as it will plunge the country in a more worse chaotic situation than the 2007/08 post election violence.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya, who cautioned the president against tampering with the 2027 general elections, as it will spark a situation that will be out of control. Both the opposition fraction holding that their sentiments are precautionary remarks and not incitement.
