The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticized President William Ruto for partisanship in his nomination of the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman and members.
Musyoka’s remarks followed President Ruto’s selection of Erastus Ethekon as the next IEBC chairperson. According to Musyoka, the decision undermines public trust and suggests an intention to manipulate future elections.
“We are deeply concerned that Ruto’s decision to disregard the principle of consultation and consensus in his IEBC nominations has compromised the integrity of the institution,” Musyoka stated. “This move has created a low-trust environment, and it’s now clear that the goal is to rig not only the next election but also upcoming by-elections. The opposition will issue a full statement on Monday, May 12,” he added.
President Ruto’s nomination of Ethekon as chairperson followed the recommendations of the Selection Panel overseeing the recruitment process. The President also nominated six individuals to serve as members of the IEBC: Ann Njeri Nderitu (Nyandarua), Moses Alutalala Mukhwana (Kakamega), Mary Karen Sorobit (Uasin Gishu), Hassan Noor Hassan (Mandera), Francis Odhiambo Aduol (Kisumu), and Fahima Arafat Abdallah (Lamu).
The Selection Panel had submitted two names for the Chairperson role and nine for the six member positions, from which the President made his final picks. The nominations have been forwarded to the National Assembly for review and approval in accordance with the Constitution and the IEBC Act.
Notably, prominent figures like former East African Court of Justice legislator Charles Nyachae and former Registrar of the Judiciary Ann Amadi were not included in the final list. A recent poll by the research firm TIFA had named Amadi as the top preferred candidate for the chairperson position, with Nyachae ranked second overall.
According to the TIFA survey released on Wednesday, 41% of Kenyans favored Amadi, with her support concentrated mainly in Nairobi and Nyanza. Nyachae received 23% support, while Ethekon earned 15% and Abdulqadir Ramadhan 12%. The poll suggested that while Ethekon and Ramadhan had influence in specific areas, they lacked broader national appeal.
The report also revealed regional and demographic preferences. Younger voters (aged 18-34) leaned towards Amadi, citing gender representation and regional background, while older voters (35 and above) preferred Nyachae due to his qualifications and experience.
On the issue of qualifications, 56% of respondents favored Nyachae, followed by 40% for Ramadhan, 32% for Ethekon, and 25% for Amadi. In terms of perceived impartiality, Ramadhan was seen as the most neutral (38%), followed by Ethekon (30%), Nyachae (24%), and Amadi (18%).
Despite the appointments, public confidence in the vetting process remains low. The TIFA poll found that 55% of Kenyans were not confident the process was merit-based, reflecting ongoing concerns about the credibility of Kenya’s electoral systems. Those who believed previous elections were fair expressed more trust in the process, while those who considered them flawed were skeptical.
The vacancies at the IEBC arose on January 16, 2023, when former Chair Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu concluded their six-year terms. The commission also experienced internal strife after the contested 2022 presidential election, leading to the resignation or dismissal of Vice Chair Juliana Cherera and commissioners Irene Masit, Justus Nyang’aya, and Francis Wanderi, collectively known as the “Cherera Four.”
They had disputed the presidential election results, claiming the final tally lacked transparency, and were later accused of conspiring with senior Azimio la Umoja officials to sway the outcome in favor of Raila Odinga.
The National Assembly is now set to begin vetting the new nominees before they are formally appointed to oversee electoral reforms in preparation for the next general election.
