Political tension escalates as opposition raises concerns over transparency, fairness of IEBC selection process

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel has completed interviews for candidates vying for the positions of Chairperson and Commission members.

The process, which began on March 24, 2025, concluded Friday, April 25, 2025, with 118 candidates interviewed.

The panel now prepares to submit a list of shortlisted nominees to President William Ruto by May 11, 2025.

Despite the conclusion of the interviews, the process has sparked political unrest, with critics raising concerns about the transparency and fairness of the selection.

Opposition figures and civil society groups have accused the panel of bias, claiming that certain nominees have clear political ties.

The opposition, led by figures such as Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and Martha Karua, has expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of public engagement in the nomination process.

Charles Nyachae and Joy Mdivo have become the focal point of these allegations, with some accusing them of having partisan affiliations that could undermine the impartiality required for the position of chairperson.

Restart process

Critics are demanding that the selection process be restarted to ensure fairness.

Panel chairperson Nelson Makanda, however, defended the process, assuring the public that the selection had been conducted transparently and in compliance with the law.

"We wish to reassure Kenyans that we have conducted the process transparently and within the law," Makanda told journalists after the interviews concluded on Friday.

He dismissed accusations that the panel was influenced by political forces and emphasised the importance of integrity in the recruitment.

Adding to the controversy, a lobby group called Operation Linda Jamii has moved to court, seeking to halt the process and restart the hiring procedure, claiming that the panel deliberately shortlisted individuals with political leanings.

The group also expressed concerns about the panel’s decision to add six more names to the shortlist after publishing the initial list, arguing that the additions undermined the process’s integrity.

Defenders of the process, including leaders from the Kenya Kwanza coalition, have urged critics to respect the institutional procedures and allow the process to proceed as planned.

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Tharaka MP George Murugara acknowledged the slow pace of the interviews but praised the panel for its thoroughness, assuring that once the nominees are submitted, they would undergo a swift vetting process in the National Assembly.

As the process nears its conclusion, all eyes are on President Ruto, who will be tasked with nominating the final candidates for the positions. The nominees will then be sent to the National Assembly for approval, where the political tension surrounding the appointment is expected to intensify further.