Parliament Makes Final Decision On New IEBC Chairperson
The National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) has confirmed Erastus Ethekon Edung’s candidacy as the new Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In its report to the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 3, the JLAC also approved the nominations of six people to serve as IEBC commissioners.
The clearances follow a successful examination by the JLAC on Saturday, May 31.
Following the approvals, all eyes are now on the National Assembly, which will discuss the report and decide whether to reject or approve the committee’s recommendations.
Erastus Edung Ethekon has eaten books. pic.twitter.com/gjhpNG9Hen
— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) May 8, 2025
President William Ruto nominated Ethekon and the six commissioners after receiving a complete report from the IEBC selection team, chaired by Nelson Makanda.
Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana (Kakamega), Mary Karen Sorobit (Uasin Gishu), Hassan Noor Hassan (Mandera), Francis Odhiambo Aduol (Kisumu), and Fahima Araphat Abdallah (Lamu) are the six commissioners that were nominated and approved.
IEBC Chair nominee Erastus Edung Ethekon says young people at a cyber café urged him to apply and even submitted the application on his behalf. pic.twitter.com/0duMAhgYIq
— The Kenya Times (@thekenyatimes) May 31, 2025
During the vetting process, Ethekon assured the JLAC Committee that he was qualified for the post and pledged to uphold the law if appointed as the new IEBC head, guaranteeing that he would be unbiased in his duties to ensure free and fair elections.
“I will play my role as Chairperson in that, I will be guided by the laws of Kenya, and through that fidelity to the law, I should be able to follow all the laid down processes that will lead us to credible, free, verifiable elections,” Ethekon said.
His nomination attracted mixed reactions from Kenyans following suspicions that he was linked to former Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok.
Given Nanok’s close ties to the administration, there have been concerns that the former Turkana County Attorney may be biased in favor of President William Ruto.
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Nanok is currently serving as the State House’s Deputy Chief of Staff.
The nominee, on the other hand, denied the worries, revealing that he had no personal relations with the previous governor other than their professional relationship when he worked for him.
“For the record, Honourable Chairman, not even close, not at the clan level, let alone family,” Edung clarified.
“We come from different villages and have no relationship whatsoever, whether by marriage or extended family.”
Parliament Makes Final Decision On New IEBC Chairperson
