President William Ruto has officially received the report from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel regarding the recruitment of nominees for the roles of Chairperson and Commissioners of the IEBC. The handover took place at State House, Nairobi.
The Selection Panel, led by Nelson Makanda, concluded a month-long interview process on April 25, during which candidates for both the chairperson and commissioner positions were vetted.
In accordance with legal requirements, the panel has submitted the names of the top two candidates for the position of IEBC Chairperson.
The President is expected to nominate one of them for vetting and approval by the National Assembly. Additionally, the panel has recommended nine candidates for the commissioner roles, from which the President is to nominate six for parliamentary consideration.
President Ruto commended the panel for its diligent and transparent work. He affirmed his commitment to fulfilling his constitutional duties by nominating the selected candidates and forwarding their names to Parliament for approval.
Highlighting the urgency of restoring the IEBC to full operational capacity, the President stressed that a credible and functional electoral body is essential to strengthening democracy, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring timely and transparent preparations for upcoming elections.
A total of 11 candidates were interviewed for the IEBC Chairperson role, including former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi and ex-Chairperson of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, Charles Nyachae.
Other contenders included legal and governance experts such as Joy Mdivo, Jacob Ngwele Muvengei, Erastus Edung Ethekon, Francis Kakai Kissinger, Lilian Wanjiku Manegene, and Saul Simiyu Wasilwa.
The submission of the report marks a significant step toward the reconstitution of the IEBC, whose vacancy has delayed several key electoral processes, including pending by-elections and early preparations for the 2027 General Election.
