Ruto Gazettes New IEBC Chair, Commissioners Despite Court Ruling
President William Ruto has formally gazetted the new Chairperson and six Commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Following a recent High Court decision, the move tries to regularise the procedure.
Ruto appointed Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new Chairperson of the IEBC for a six-year term via Gazette Notice No. 9269 on July 10, 2025.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 250 (2) as read with section 5 (2) of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act and Paragraph 4 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 Erastus Edung Ethekon to be the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” the notice reads.
Barely hrs after the High Court nullified the gazettement of IEBC chair-designate Erastus Ethekon and 6 others citing violation of a court order & unconstitutional process, President Ruto has appointed Ethekon as IEBC Chairperson + 6 other members via notice dated July 10, 2025. pic.twitter.com/rW8Id2lpTm
— 23🇰🇪 (@NdunyuJJ) July 10, 2025
In a separate Gazette Notice No. 9270, dated July 10, 2025, Ruto appointed six people to serve as IEBC commissioners for a six-year tenure.
Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah have all been appointed.
The appointments came after the High Court determined that, while the appointments were substantively legitimate, the President’s previous Gazette Notice was published in breach of a court order.
The President appoints IEBC Commission by gazette notice in disobedience of court orders halting gazettement. pic.twitter.com/sVfFHPozD2
— 🇰🇪 James WaNjeri (@JamesKWaNjeri) June 10, 2025
On Thursday, a three-judge panel consisting of Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili (presiding), Justice John Chigiti, and Justice Bahati Mwamuye overturned the Gazette Notice.
Court Upholds IEBC Nominees:
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) July 10, 2025
High Court has dismissed the substantive petition that sought to invalidate IEBC appointments.
High Court also held that the gazette notice issued by President Ruto to formalise the appointments was unlawful.#NTVTonight @Ben_Kitili pic.twitter.com/qPhUwfj5b7
As a result, the initial Gazette Notice was quashed, mandating a new publication in accordance with the decision.
The Court determined that the initial gazettment was procedurally faulty since it was issued while a valid conservatory order was still in effect.
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It did not, however, cancel the appointments, claiming that the flaw was in the formalization process rather than in the qualifications of the individuals selected.
With the new Gazette Notices released, the Chairperson and Commissioners are expected to take the oath of office before the Chief Justice.
This will clear the way for them to formally take up their duties at the Electoral Commission.
Following the retirement and resignation of the former commission members, reconstituting the IEBC is an important step in preparing the country for the 2027 General Election.
Ruto Gazettes New IEBC Chair, Commissioners Despite Court Ruling
