President William Ruto has nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson.
In a statement on Thursday, May 8, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the nomination follows recommendations made by the IEBC Selection Panel tasked.
"This presidential action follows the recommendations of the Selection Panel on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of chairperson and members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, as transmitted on Tuesday, 6 May 2025," the statement read.
On the other hand, Ruto has nominated six individuals to serve as members of the commission, including Ann Njeri Nderitu and Moses Alutalala Mukhwana.
Others are Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
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"In recognition of the indispensable role of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission as one of the cornerstone institutions of our democracy under the custodian of electoral management, His Excellency the President has urged the National Assembly to prioritize the consideration of these nominations," the statement concluded.
Following these nominations, the names will be submitted to the National Assembly for vetting and approval.
The National Assembly has up to 28 days to conduct the vetting process, during which it may approve or reject the nominees.
If the nominees are approved, the president must formally appoint them through a Gazette notice within seven days of receiving the approval.
Notably, the selection panel that conducted the recruitment stands dissolved after submitting the names to the president, unless parliament resolves to extend its tenure if needed.
Throughout this process, constitutional requirements must be observed, including the principles of gender equity and regional balance.
No more than two-thirds of the members of the commission should be of the same gender, and regional diversity must be taken into account.
