NAIROBI, Kenya – Commissioner Fahima Araphat Abdallah has been elected the new Vice Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), just hours after the newly reconstituted team was sworn into office.
The announcement was made by IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon following the Commission’s 288th plenary meeting held on Friday at the IEBC Boardroom in Nairobi.
“Following the gazettement and subsequent swearing-in of the Chairperson and members of the Commission, we are pleased to announce that Commissioner Fahima Araphat Abdallah has been elected as the Vice Chairperson of the Commission,” Ethekon said in a press release.
Fahima joins Chairperson Ethekon at the helm of a newly revitalised IEBC, which now includes Commissioners Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, and Francis Odhiambo Aduol.
Their appointments come at a pivotal moment for Kenya’s democratic landscape, as the electoral body prepares for upcoming by-elections and lays the foundation for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking shortly after his swearing-in at the Supreme Court earlier in the day, Ethekon pledged to uphold the Commission’s independence and ensure that the will of the people is protected.
“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democratic society. The IEBC is entrusted with the solemn responsibility that every citizen’s voice is not only heard but honoured,” Ethekon said. “My first loyalty is to the People of Kenya who hold the sovereign power under Article 1 of the Constitution.”
He urged all Kenyans to work together in building a peaceful and secure democracy through active participation and respect for due process.
Ethekon also acknowledged the challenges faced by previous Commissions, particularly the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation in the digital age.
“We have an opportunity to work with the media to educate and inform the public with factual truths,” he said. “A credible election is not only IEBC’s mandate but a collective responsibility.”
The reconstitution of the IEBC followed a High Court ruling that dismissed a petition challenging the appointment of the new commissioners, clearing the way for the team to assume office.
With the electoral calendar ticking toward 2027, the Commission now faces the task of restoring public confidence and preparing for what is expected to be a high-stakes electoral cycle.
