Naivasha Law Courts Chief Magistrate Abdulqadi Lorot Ramadan has pledged to uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethics if appointed as the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Lorot made the declaration on Monday while appearing before the IEBC selection panel for vetting.
During his interview, Lorot was asked if he had ever encountered ethical dilemmas in his career and how he handled them. In response, he recounted an incident in which an advocate attempted to engage him in an improper negotiation over a pending court matter.
“He approached me in my chambers and said that he had been sent by his client… I did not let him speak. I was scheduled to deliver the ruling the next day, so I instructed him to appear in court for the ruling,” Lorot explained.
The advocate failed to appear as directed, prompting Lorot to compel his attendance. While the client ultimately won the case, Lorot did not award him costs as a penalty for the attempted interference. He documented the advocate’s approach and reported the matter to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) for further action.
Expressing his unwavering commitment to ethical leadership, Lorot emphasized that he has always remained strict about his integrity. He credited his wife for reinforcing his principles, stating, “I have a very good wife, one of the things she has told me is that I should never come home with corrupt money because that will affect my children and everybody else.”
Lorot is among 11 candidates shortlisted for the position of IEBC chairperson. Other contenders include former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi, former East African Court of Justice judge Charles Nyachae, and Edward Katama Ngeywa.
The selection panel has scheduled oral interviews for the positions of IEBC chairperson and members, which begin today, March 4. Candidates for the member positions will be interviewed from March 27 to April 24. The interviews are being conducted at the College of Insurance, South C, Nairobi.
With Lorot’s firm stance on integrity, his candidacy presents a perspective of ethical leadership for a commission that plays a critical role in Kenya’s democratic processes.
