NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has finally appointed nine members of the Selection Panel for the Recruitment of nominees for appointment as the Chairperson and Member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The appointment was made via a Special Gazette Notice No. 715 published on Monday, January 27, 2025, after nearly a three-year delay that caused political upheaval.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 7A of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, as read with paragraph 1 (2) of the First Schedule to the Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint,” the Notice reads in part.
Who are the nine members of the IEBC Selection Panel
President Ruto appointed Kiome Lindah Gakii, Communication professional Oloo Adams, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, and Ambassador Koki Muli Grignon Carolene Kituku Tanui Andrew Kipkoech, Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman are to be members of the panel.
Meanwhile, the head of state announced that the members of the Selection Panel appointments vide Gazette Notice No. 2641 of 2023 had been revoked.
The nine appointees are set to be sworn into office at the Supreme Court Building on Monday at 9 am.
What Rigathi Gachagua said about IEBC reconstitution
In a related story, Y News reported that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua issued a call to the international community, urging them to pressure the Kenyan government to reconstitute IEBC.
The IEBC operates without a chairperson and commissioners, relying solely on its secretariat.
The delay in reconstituting the commission has raised concerns about the country’s preparedness for the upcoming 2027 General Election.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura attributed the delay to a court injunction blocking the formation of the IEBC Selection Panel.
Mwaura urged political parties, particularly the Wiper Party, to nominate candidates to the selection committee to move the process forward.
