New IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, commissioners sworn in
The commissioners, led by the new chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, took their oath of office before Chief Justice Martha Koome at the Supreme Court on Friday, just a day after a three-judge bench of the High Court cleared their appointments.
Seven commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) were officially sworn into office this afternoon, marking a key step in the rebuilding of the country’s electoral agency.
The commissioners, led by the new chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, took their oath of office before Chief Justice Martha Koome at the Supreme Court on Friday, just a day after a three-judge bench of the High Court cleared their appointments.
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Their swearing-in now sets the stage for a fresh six-year term for the team, as the country prepares for critical electoral and boundary review processes.
The new commissioners include Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
Their appointment ends a long wait for a fully constituted commission following the exit of the previous team and months of legal hurdles.
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 clears the way for the commission to resume its full mandate and address key electoral duties ahead of the next general elections.
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