Kenyans given until May 21 to submit views on IEBC nominees
Despite the National Assembly currently being in recess, Wetang’ula invoked special provisions to allow urgent parliamentary business to proceed without recalling Members of Parliament.
Kenyans have been invited to submit written views regarding the suitability of seven individuals nominated for appointment as chairperson and members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), ahead of vetting by the National Assembly.
In a public notice issued by the Clerk of the National Assembly, members of the public have until Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 5:00 pm to submit memoranda either in person, by post, or via email.
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The memoranda must be in the form of written statements on oath (affidavits) and accompanied by evidence contesting the suitability of any of the nominees.
The notification comes as the National Assembly officially begins the parliamentary approval process for the appointment of a new IEBC chairperson and six commissioners, following a formal submission of names by President William Ruto.
The list, delivered to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula last week, proposes Erastus Edung Ethekon as the chairperson of the commission. The commissioner nominees include Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
The nominees were picked through a competitive recruitment process undertaken by a selection panel appointed under the guidance of the National Dialogue Committee and relevant legal provisions.
Despite the National Assembly currently being in recess, Wetang’ula invoked special provisions to allow urgent parliamentary business to proceed without recalling Members of Parliament.
The Speaker has formally referred the names and accompanying documents to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC), chaired by Tharaka MP Gitonga Murugara, with strict instructions to begin vetting immediately.
“The urgency to reconstitute the IEBC cannot be overstated,” Wetang’ula said in the notification, directing the committee to fast-track the hearings and submit its report to the House by May 27, when Parliament resumes regular sittings.
“The Clerk is hereby required to submit this notification to all members of the National Assembly and facilitate the committee to undertake the necessary approval hearings on the nominees referred to them for consideration,” reads part of the Speaker’s memo.
Approval hearings
The approval hearings are scheduled for Monday, May 26, 2025, and will be held in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings, starting at 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Nominees are expected to appear with original identity cards, academic and professional certificates, and other relevant testimonials.
They must also obtain clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) and a Credit Reference Bureau.
The committee will vet the candidates based on their professional experience, integrity and overall suitability to serve in one of the country’s most sensitive constitutional commissions.
The positions at the IEBC have drawn heightened political and public interest due to their central role in managing elections and overseeing electoral reforms.
The IEBC has been operating below capacity for several months, limiting its ability to conduct by-elections and boundary reviews. The vetting process will include public hearings during which nominees will defend their qualifications and explain their understanding of the commission’s mandate.
The Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act states that no appointment requiring parliamentary approval shall be made unless Parliament approves or is deemed to have approved it.
Should Parliament reject a nominee, the President would be required to submit a new name selected from a pool of two chairperson candidates and nine commissioner nominees shortlisted by the selection panel.
If approved, the new IEBC team will assume office at a critical time as the country prepares for several electoral milestones, including upcoming by-elections and the 2027 general election.
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