ELOG demands release of IEBC recruitment report, cites transparency concerns
According to ELOG, transparency in the recruitment of IEBC commissioners is vital to building public trust in electoral processes.
The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has demanded the public release of the report on the recruitment of the chairperson and members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a statement, ELOG raised concerns that the report was only handed to President William Ruto and has not been made available to the public.
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According to ELOG, transparency in the recruitment of IEBC commissioners is vital to building public trust in electoral processes.
"Following the conclusion of the exercise, ELOG is concerned that the report was only submitted to the President and was not made public. Accordingly, therefore, we demand the immediate release of the full recruitment report," the ELOG statement reads.
"Transparency and accountability through the observance of open data principles are fundamental for good governance, and withholding of this report undermines public trust, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the recruitment exercise, which has so far been done in a mostly transparent manner."
Further, ELOG warned that withholding the recruitment report could fuel doubts and lead to unwarranted speculation about the integrity of the selection process for IEBC commissioners.
"The failure to release the recruitment report will only deepen suspicions and promote unnecessary speculations," ELOG said.
"Public trust in electoral institutions is critical not only because elections are a 'people's process' but also because it is an integral part of enhancing the credibility of electoral processes."
The development follows the submission of the report by the IEBC selection panel to President Ruto on May 6, at State House, Nairobi.
During the handover, Ruto thanked the selection panel for conducting a thorough process. He also said he would forward the names of the nominees to Parliament for vetting and approval.
The selection panel finished interviews for the chairperson’s post on March 26, 2025 and wrapped up the interviews for commissioner positions by April 25.
A total of 11 individuals were interviewed for the chairperson’s position, with Ruto nominating Erastus Edung Ethekon to take over the leadership of IEBC.
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