The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The panel responsible for selecting the next chairperson and six commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has completed its interview process, shifting the spotlight to President William Ruto.
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Chaired by Nelson Makanda, the panel concluded its interviews on April 25 after a month-long exercise. The vetting for the IEBC chairperson position was finalized earlier on March 26, after which the focus moved to interviewing candidates for commissioner roles.
Eleven individuals were interviewed for the position of chairperson, among them former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi and Charles Nyachae, the former Chairperson of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution.
Other contenders included Saul Simiyu Wasilwa, Abdulqadir Lorot Ramadhan, Joy Mdivo, Edward Katama Ngeywa, Erastus Edung Ethekon, Francis Kakai Kissinger, Jacob Ngwele Muvengei, Lilian Wanjiku Manegene, and Robert Akumu Asembo.
As stipulated by law, the panel will recommend two top candidates for the chairperson role, from which the President will nominate one to undergo parliamentary vetting and approval.
Sources indicate that Charles Nyachae, Erastus Ethekon, Joy Mdivo, Anne Amadi, and Abdulqadir Lorot have emerged as leading contenders.
The interviews for commissioner positions ran from March 27 to April 25. Of the 111 candidates who were shortlisted, 106 appeared before the panel.
The panel must now select nine names for commissioner posts, from which the President will appoint six, pending parliamentary approval.
President Ruto is expected to receive the panel’s final list of 11 nominees — two for chairperson and nine for commissioner — by May 9 at the earliest.
To finalize its report, the panel will go on retreat starting April 28. Parliament has extended the panel’s term by 14 days, allowing it to operate until May 12.
Amid growing public interest, political leaders have urged President Ruto to consult widely with key stakeholders before making appointments, to strengthen confidence in the electoral body ahead of the 2027 elections.
The urgency to reconstitute the IEBC comes not only in preparation for the next general election but also to oversee several pending by-elections across the country.
