Fahima Abdallah elected new IEBC Vice Chairperson

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has elected Commissioner Fahima Araphat Abdallah as its new Vice Chairperson, following the swearing-in of the full Commission earlier today.

The election took place during the Commission's 288th Plenary Meeting held at its headquarters in Nairobi.

"The Commission takes this opportunity to congratulate Commissioner Fahima on her election. We assure members of the public and our stakeholders that the Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening Kenya's democracy," said IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon in a statement.

Commissioner Fahima's appointment as Vice Chair comes on the heels of a significant transition for the IEBC. Just hours earlier, the Commission’s full membership was sworn into office at the Supreme Court by Chief Justice Martha Koome. The ceremony marks the official commencement of a six-year term for the new electoral team.

The newly appointed Chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon, leads a team of seven commissioners whose appointment follows months of uncertainty, legal challenges, and the disbandment of the previous commission. The six commissioners joining him are Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.

Their swearing-in comes a day after a three-judge bench of the High Court gave the green light for the appointments, which had earlier been subject to legal scrutiny.

This formal swearing-in follows President William Ruto’s official gazettment of the appointments, a step taken to regularise the process after a recent High Court ruling challenged the initial notices.

In Gazette Notice No. 9269 dated July 10, 2025, Ruto named Erastus Edung Ethekon as Chairperson, while Gazette Notice No. 9270, also dated July 10, appointed the six commissioners for the same duration.

The High Court quashed the initial Gazette Notices No. 7724 and 7725, issued on June 10, 2025, after finding they breached interim conservatory orders from May 29, 2025.

Justices Roselyne Aburili, John Chigiti, and Bahati Mwamuye ruled that while the publication process was flawed, the actual appointments were valid and should stand.

By green-lighting the fresh gazette, the court allowed the new IEBC leadership to formally assume office without fear of the appointments being invalidated.

This now clears the way for the commission to resume its full mandate and address key electoral duties ahead of the next general elections.

Other Topics To Read

• National
• IEBC Commissioners
• IEBC Selection Panel
• IEBC selection
• IEBC interviews
• Fahima Araphat Abdalla
• Fahima Abdalla
• Fahima Abdallah elected new IEBC Vice Chairperson
• Headlines