President William Ruto’s nominees for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), including the proposed chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, are bracing for intense scrutiny as they head into parliamentary vetting before they get sworn in to office if successful.
The all seven-member slate, announced last week, aims to fill critical vacancies in the body responsible for overseeing our country’s elections. However, analysts warn that securing parliamentary approval will be no easy feat.
As mentioned, Ethekon, a human rights lawyer and former Turkana County attorney, leads the list as Ruto’s pick to replace the late Wafula Chebukati, who died in February. The other nominees for IEBC commissioner positions are Ann Njeri Nderitu, lawyer Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
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Public sentiment, generally shaped by years of electoral disputes and the presence of a strong opposition, looms large over the vetting process. On this, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka accused the President of sidelining bipartisan consultation, warning that a “Ruto-controlled IEBC” risks undermining public trust.
Citing the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report, Musyoka stressed the need for coalition consensus to legitimise the commission. “The recommendations in Paragraph 861 of the report highlight the importance of consultations before the President appoints the chairperson and members of the IEBC,” said the former Vice President.
Concerns about transparency have also been raised. The Election Observation Group (ELOG) criticised the lack of openness in the recruitment process, especially in the report prepared by the selection panel led by Dr Nelson Makanda.
For the above reasons, the vetting process, set to unfold in the coming weeks, will test Ruto’s ability to balance competing political interests while restoring confidence in the IEBC.
The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), under chairman George Murugara, will oversee the vetting, with public input invited to ensure transparency.
Under Kenyan law, the process could take up to 28 days, with the committee expected to table its report by May 27, when the National Assembly resumes.
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