NAIROBI, Kenya -The National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) has recommended the approval of all seven nominees to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), paving way for the reconstituting the electoral body after more than two years.
Tabling the committee’s report in the House on Tuesday, JLAC Chairperson George Murugara said the team had concluded a rigorous vetting exercise and found each of the nominees fit to hold office.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Article 252(b) of the Constitution, the committee approves the appointment of Erusus Edung Ethekon as the Chairperson and Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Arafat Abdallah as members of the IEBC,” Murugara told the House.
The report now awaits debate and a formal vote by the National Assembly, which, if adopted, will clear the way for the President to officially appoint the nominees and set the stage for their swearing-in.
President William Ruto nominated the seven individuals following recommendations by the Nelson Makanda-led selection panel, which conducted public interviews and background checks over a month-long recruitment process.
The panel’s task was to identify candidates capable of restoring public confidence in the electoral commission ahead of key assignments, including boundary reviews and upcoming by-elections.
The IEBC has been operating without commissioners since January 2023, when the term of the Wafula Chebukati-led team came to an end.
Their departure plunged the commission into a leadership vacuum, stalling critical electoral processes and fueling calls from stakeholders for urgent reforms.
The nominees represent a broad regional spread, with Erustus Ethekon tapped as chairperson, and the others drawn from Nyandarua, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Mandera, Kisumu, and Lamu counties.
The vetting exercise focused on the nominees’ understanding of electoral law, impartiality, track record in public service, and capacity to steer a credible electoral process.
Should Parliament approve the report, the seven will be sworn in shortly thereafter, officially marking the return of a fully constituted commission.
