The Opposition has issued a stern warning to President William Ruto, demanding meaningful consultation before the appointment of new commissioners to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the leaders cautioned that any attempt to unilaterally appoint commissioners without Opposition input would undermine public trust in the electoral body ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the leaders insisted that consensus must be reached on the final list of appointees. “We again demand that before the appointment of IEBC Commissioners, there shall be consultation and concurrence on the final list,” they said, adding that the government cannot claim to be inclusive while locking out critical voices.
The Opposition’s concerns stem from what they described as a flawed recruitment process by the IEBC selection panel, chaired by Rev. Dr. Nelson Makanda. The panel concluded interviews for commissioner positions on April 25, following a month-long vetting process. While 111 candidates were shortlisted, only 106 appeared before the panel. Earlier, 11 individuals were interviewed for the chairperson role, including prominent names such as Anne Amadi and Charles Nyachae.
By law, the panel will forward two names for the chairperson position and nine for the commissioner roles to President Ruto, who will then nominate one chairperson and six commissioners, subject to parliamentary approval.
Opposition leaders including Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, Justin Muturi, Mithika Linturi, and Torome Saitoti voiced concerns that the ongoing process lacked transparency and did not meet the highest standards expected of an institution critical to democratic governance.
“We will not accept a commission that fails to inspire confidence in Kenyans. Such a failure risks setting the stage for rigged elections in 2027,” the leaders warned. They reaffirmed their commitment to defending the Constitution, promoting electoral justice, and resisting any attempts at authoritarianism.
The statement underscores rising political tensions over the IEBC reconstitution and sets the stage for possible confrontation should the process be seen as partisan or exclusionary.
