President William Ruto receives the report on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of IEBC from the IEBC Selection Panel.PHOTO:STATE HOUSE
President William Ruto has officially received the long-awaited report from the IEBC Selection Panel on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The handover, which took place Monday morning at State House Nairobi, marks a key step toward reconstituting Kenya’s top electoral body, which has operated without a full commission since early 2023.
“I commend the panel, chaired by Dr. Nelson Makanda, for their diligent and commendable work,” President Ruto said in a statement. “In accordance with the provisions of the IEBC Act, I will nominate and transmit the names to the National Assembly in full fidelity to the constitutional principles that guide our system of governance.”
The IEBC Selection Panel—composed of representatives from the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, religious bodies, and other statutory entities—was tasked with vetting applicants and forwarding suitable candidates to the President for formal nomination.
Dr. Makanda, a respected member of the clergy, has led the panel through months of public scrutiny and interviews.
While the handover marks progress, it comes after months of uncertainty and delay that have hamstrung electoral operations across the country.
The IEBC has been under strain since the exit of Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and two other commissioners at the close of their constitutional term in January 2023.
As a result, several key functions of the electoral body—including the management of by-elections, voter registration, and the review of constituency boundaries—have been left in limbo.
At least 14 electoral areas, including parliamentary and ward-level seats, remain unrepresented due to the commission’s inability to organize by-elections. Areas such as Magarini, Banisa, Ugunja, and parts of Nairobi have been hardest hit, with citizens effectively disenfranchised.
According to electoral law, by-elections must be held within 90 days of a seat falling vacant. But without commissioners to provide quorum or oversight, the IEBC has been legally and administratively paralyzed.
Electoral watchdogs and civil society groups have raised concerns that the prolonged delay in reconstituting the IEBC could also affect preparations for the 2027 General Election. Key pre-election activities—such as voter verification, technological upgrades, and the sensitive process of boundary delimitation—require a fully operational commission.
“The IEBC is not just about elections—it is about representation and national stability,” said an official from the Elections Observation Group (ELOG). “We welcome the President’s commitment but urge Parliament to act swiftly.”
President Ruto emphasized the need for institutional efficiency and constitutional integrity, noting that the nominations will be guided by merit and law. He urged Parliament to expedite the vetting process once names are formally presented.
“This is a moment of renewal for our democracy,” Ruto said. “Let us restore public confidence in our electoral system by acting swiftly and transparently.”
With the report now in his hands, all eyes turn to the National Assembly, whose approval is the final step before the IEBC can return to full strength and resume its constitutional mandate.
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