NAIROBI, Kenya— The battle for Kenya’s next Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson is officially underway.
A total of 37 candidates, including former East African Court of Justice judge Charles Nyachae and ex-Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi, have thrown their hats in the ring.
With the selection panel working under a 90-day deadline, the clock is ticking to fill the position of the chairperson and six commissioners by May.
The long list, published Thursday, features high-profile names and seasoned legal minds.
Among them is Charles Nyachae, who resigned from his post at the East African Court of Justice in November 2023. Nyachae had been appointed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018.
Then there’s Anne Amadi, who stepped down as Chief Registrar of the Judiciary in January 2024 after a decade in office.
Also on the list is former IEBC CEO James Oswago, who served from 2009 to 2013 when the commission was still known as the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC).
Other notable applicants include Kenya Power board chairperson Joy Brenda Masinde-Mdivo and advocate Francis Kissinger.
Former IEBC CEO James Oswago, convicted in the Sh1.3 billion ‘Chickengate’ graft case, ex-Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi, and Charles Nyachae are among 37 applicants for the IEBC chair position. #K24Updates
The Selection Process Begins
With 1,848 applications received before the February 15 deadline, the selection panel had to eliminate duplicates and stray entries before arriving at the final 37.
According to panel vice chairperson Lindah Kiome, the shortlist is expected soon, with the final names forwarded to President William Ruto by April 25.
From there, Parliament will vet the candidates before the commission takes office in May.
“If we give the names by the 25th, we should be having a commission by May in accordance with the law,” Kiome confirmed.
She swore in two presidents, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto and asked Rigathi Gachagua to retake his oath. Anne Amadi was then the Chief Registrar of Judiciary. After retiring, she now wants to be the next IEBC chair. Who is Anne Amadi? thekenyatimes.com/krgx
What It Takes to Become IEBC Chair
To qualify for the chairperson position, candidates must have at least 15 years of experience as a superior court judge or as a distinguished academic, judicial officer, legal practitioner, or expert in a legally relevant field.
With Kenya’s electoral body playing a critical role in shaping the country’s democratic process, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The upcoming shortlist and subsequent interviews will determine who gets the nod for one of the most scrutinized roles in the country.
The selection panel now moves to the shortlisting phase, where a tighter group of candidates will be identified for interviews.
As the deadline looms, all eyes will be on who makes the final cut—and who ultimately takes over the IEBC helm.
