The recruitment process for the next chairperson and members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has attracted a total of 1,848 applications. This follows the closure of the application window on February 15, 2025, at 5 p.m., as announced by the Selection Panel overseeing the process.
According to the panel’s chairperson, Nelson Makanda, the applications were received through both hand-delivery and email submissions. He further stated that the panel has commenced the verification process and will soon release a long list of all applicants, in compliance with the IEBC Act.
“The panel would like to reassure the public that members of the Selection Panel are committed to conducting a fair and transparent process,” Makanda said in a press statement.
The recruitment process is crucial, as the IEBC has been operating without commissioners, which has hindered its ability to perform key functions, such as reviewing constituency boundaries and overseeing by-elections. The panel was assigned the responsibility of selecting seven new commissioners on January 27 and was given 85 days to complete the process.
Once the verification process is complete, the Selection Panel will proceed to shortlist candidates and conduct interviews. The final list of successful candidates will then be forwarded to President William Ruto, who will nominate one individual for the position of chairperson and six others as commissioners. These nominations will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval within seven days before formal appointments are made.
Makanda reiterated the panel’s commitment to keeping the public informed at every stage of the recruitment process. He also confirmed that the new IEBC team is expected to be in place by April 25, 2025.
The nine-member Selection Panel overseeing the recruitment includes Dr. Fatuma Saman, Prof. Adams Oloo, James Misati, Nicodemus Bore, Koki Muli, Andrew Tanui, and Caroline Kituku. They were appointed by President William Ruto and took their oaths of office before Chief Justice Martha Koome, as stipulated in the Third Schedule of the IEBC Act.
With the IEBC’s full functionality being a critical aspect of Kenya’s electoral and democratic processes, the appointment of new commissioners is expected to restore efficiency and ensure smooth electoral operations moving forward. The public and stakeholders will be keenly watching the process to ensure it meets the principles of fairness and transparency.
