Watch: IEBC chair nominee Erastus Ethekon faces vetting panel
The hearings are taking place in the Mini Chamber at County Hall with Erastus Edung Ethekon, nominated as IEBC chairperson by President William Ruto, facing the panel.
The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has commenced the vetting of nominees to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), beginning with Erastus Edung Ethekon, who was the first to appear before the panel. The public hearings are being held in the Mini Chamber at County Hall, Nairobi.
Ethekon, aged 49, hails from Turkana County and was admitted to the bar in 2003. He was nominated by President William Ruto on May 8, 2025, as part of the process to reconstitute the electoral body following the expiry of the previous commissioners’ terms and the resignation of others in the wake of the contested 2022 General Election.
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Ethekon said he is confident to serve in the role, if approved, citing his previous work experience that has shaped his career.
"I spent nearly 13 years at the United Nations serving in various roles. I later returned to support devolution, helping counties like Turkana and Mandera build legal capacity. Last year, I joined the African Union Development Agency as an advisor to the CEO on the nexus between governance, insecurity and development," he told MPs.
Should Parliament approve his nomination, Ethekon will join the commission tasked with overseeing Kenya’s electoral processes, including the critical 2027 General Election, which is expected to be a key test of the country’s democratic institutions.
IEBC Chairperson nominee Erastus Ethekon was forced to retake his oath after initially failing to hold the Bible during swearing-in, saying, “I had not seen the Bible.”
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) May 31, 2025
Ethekon has appeared before the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee for vetting. pic.twitter.com/VGGyw2RBnl
The vetting exercise will continue throughout the day, with the following nominees scheduled to appear before the committee: Anne Nderitu at 10:30 am, Moses Mukwana at 11:30 am, Mary Karen Sorobit at 12:30 pm, Hassan Noor at 2:30 pm, Francis Odhiambo at 3:30 pm, and Fahima Abdalla at 4:30 pm.
The reconstitution of the IEBC is seen as a vital step towards restoring public confidence in Kenya’s electoral system.
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