NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has officially received the report on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), marking a key milestone in the long-delayed reconstitution of the electoral body.
In a statement shared on X, President Ruto praised the IEBC Selection Panel, led by Dr. Nelson Makanda, for what he termed as “diligent and commendable work.”
“In accordance with the provisions of the IEBC Act, I will nominate and transmit the names to the National Assembly in full fidelity to the constitutional principles that guide our system of governance,” the President stated.
This morning, I received the report on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from the IEBC Selection Panel, State House Nairobi.I commend the panel, chaired by Dr Nelson Makanda,
The IEBC has operated without a full commission since January 16, 2023, when the tenures of Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and Commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu came to an end.
The situation was worsened by the forced resignation of Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, Francis Wanderi, and Irene Masit, following their public rejection of the 2022 presidential election results.
After nearly two years of inactivity, the recruitment process resumed on January 27, 2025, with the appointment of a seven-member panel.
Interviews for the Chairperson position were conducted between March 24 and 27 at the College of Insurance in South C, Nairobi.
The panel shortlisted 11 candidates for the top job, including Anne Atieno Amadi (former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary), Charles Ayako Nyachae (former CIC chair and judge at the East African Court of Justice), Abdulqadir Lorot Ramadhan (legal scholar), and Edward Katama Ngeywa (governance expert).
Others on the shortlist include Francis Kakai Kissinger, Joy Brenda Masinde-Mdivo, Erastus Ethekon, and Robert Akumu Asembo.
In addition, the panel published a separate list of 105 candidates for IEBC commissioner roles.
Over 1,800 applications were received for both chairperson and commissioner positions.
The next phase of the process will see President Ruto forward his nominees to the National Assembly for vetting and approval.
The urgency is underscored by the fact that Kenya is just two years away from the 2027 General Election, and the new IEBC leadership will play a critical role in restoring public confidence, ensuring institutional integrity, and managing credible polls.
The commission’s collapse had sparked widespread concern, with civil society, political leaders, and citizens calling for swift action to restore the electoral agency.
With the submission of the report now complete, Kenya moves closer to rebuilding its most vital democratic institution.
