Who is Erastus Edung Ethekon? President Ruto’s nominee for IEBC Chairperson

Erastus Edung Ethekon is a legal and governance expert from Turkana County who was among candidates shortlisted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel and interviewed in March this year.

On Thursday, President William Ruto nominated Ethekon to serve as the next Chairperson of the IEBC, pending approval by the National Assembly.

Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the President acted in accordance with Article 250(2)(b) of the Constitution and sections 5(4) and 7 of the IEBC Act.

The nomination follows the submission of a report by the IEBC Selection Panel to President Ruto at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday.

Aged 48, Ethekon brings two decades of experience in law, development and public administration. He is currently a consultant partner at Northern Consulting Solution and E. Ethekon & Co. Advocates, roles he has held since 2004.

He previously served as the County Attorney in Turkana County from 2018 to 2024, and between 2007 and 2018, he held various positions at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including Programme Advisor to the African Union in Addis Ababa and Chief Technical Advisor on Area-Based Development Programming in Kenya.

Ethekon holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Oil, Gas & Energy Law from the University of Derby, a Master of Science in Project Management from the University of Liverpool, and a Master of Arts in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies from Universidad Jaume I in Spain.

He also holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Government, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Implementation of International Human Rights Treaties from the University of Nottingham under the British Foreign & Commonwealth Chevening Fellowship.

Appearing before the IEBC Selection Panel on March 25, Ethekon was the fifth candidate to face vetting in the competitive recruitment process chaired by Dr Nelson Makanda.

Integrity

During the interview, Ethekon pledged to uphold integrity, transparency and accountability within the electoral body. He said that if confirmed, he would seek legal guidance from the Judiciary and the Attorney General’s office on the pending issue of electoral boundary delimitation.

“I will first assess the progress made in the delimitation process before seeking expert advice,” he said.

He dismissed concerns about his age, insisting he was well-equipped for the job.

“My age is not a factor. I have the stamina, the strength, and the mental capacity to withstand the pressures of the role. I am well aware,” he said.

Ethekon emphasised the importance of public trust in electoral outcomes and said his leadership would focus on ensuring fairness and credibility in the commission’s processes.

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“As the chair, I will work with electoral stakeholders, including political leaders, to discuss managing their situation if one doesn’t emerge as the winner,” he said, in reference to the 2022 election crisis.

He also pledged to enhance internal accountability mechanisms within the IEBC.

“I will tighten internal processes to ensure good management of resources,” he added.

Ethekon now awaits vetting by the National Assembly alongside six others nominated as IEBC commissioners. If approved, he will take over a commission facing mounting pressure to deliver credible polls and restore public confidence in 2027.