IEBC: President Ruto Appoints 9-Member Selection Panel After 3-Year Delay
President William Ruto has finally appointed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) screening panel, which will oversee the process of selecting IEBC commissioners.
The appointment was announced through a Special Gazette Notice published on Monday, following an almost three-year delay that generated political turmoil.
President William Ruto has appointed the selection panel for the recruitment of nominees for the positions of Chairperson and members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The appointment follows last Friday’s High Court decision, which lifted the earlier… pic.twitter.com/CCwCKCZco1
— Hussein Mohamed, MBS. (@HusseinMohamedg) January 27, 2025
Several court lawsuits and political issues slowed down the appointment process.
In a gazette notice, President Ruto appointed 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 to the panel.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7A of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, as read with paragraph 1 (2) of the First Schedule to the Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint (the 9-member team) to be Members of the Selection Panel for the Recruitment of nominees for appointment as the Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” read the notice in part.
The Head of State also annulled a previous notice of selection panel appointments, which had been published in 2023.
The nine appointees will be sworn in at the Supreme Court Building in Nairobi on Monday at 9:00 a.m.
The nine panellists were appointed just two days after the Kiambu High Court dismissed a petition challenging the IEBC Commissioners Selection Panel’s structure.
The court concluded that the petitioner, Bonface Njogu, could not submit adequate evidence to show that people with disabilities were barred from the panel’s membership.
Justice Dola Chepkwony also dismissed a petition contesting Azimio’s nomination procedure, stating that the coalition’s failure to conduct a competitive and open recruitment drive could not be proven.
IEBC SELECTION panel sworn in at Supreme Court in Nairobi; CJ Martha Koome urges them to pick men and women of integrity who will inspire trust and confidence in the electoral body. pic.twitter.com/5GA6bk2ZHi
— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) January 27, 2025
There has been push and pull between the government and the opposition regarding the formation of the selection panel.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused the government of purposefully prolonging the procedure in order to influence the results of the 2027 elections.
The selection of Adams Oloo to the IEBC Selection Panel is certain to spark discussion.
On Sunday, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna announced preparations to dispute Oloo’s inclusion, claiming he presently works as a communication consultant in President Ruto’s administration.
The appointment of the IEBC Selection Panel is a key step in recruiting seven commissioners to oversee the facilitation of elections around the country.
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To carry out its tasks successfully, the commission must be made up of commissioners and a secretariat managed by the secretary, as required by law.
After being sworn in, the panel will begin working on the creation of the IEBC Commission, which is expected to quickly organize for the upcoming byelections and establish the 2027 general election strategy.
There are now 11 electoral areas in need of by-elections for the National Assembly, seven of which are waiting due to the deaths of local Members of County Assemblies (MCAs).
Others stemmed from President William Ruto appointing former Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and former Nominated MP John Mbadi to his Cabinet.
IEBC: President Ruto Appoints 9-Member Selection Panel After 3-Year Delay
