Editor's Review

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has urged the youth to shift their energy from street protests to voter registration following the recent High Court ruling paving way for IEBC reconstitution.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has urged the youth to shift their energy from street protests to voter registration, following the recent High Court ruling that paves the way for the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

In a statement on Friday, July 11, the lawmaker noted that with the legal barrier now removed, it is time for the youth to turn their focus to the ballot box.

"I now call upon the youth of Kenya to avoid bullets in the streets and start preparing to take voters' cards. The road to #Wantam is now clear. No more loss of life. Just register to vote the best for Kenya," he said.

On Thursday, July 10, the High Court upheld the appointment of the IEBC chair and commissioners but nullified the gazette notice issued by Ruto to formalise their appointments.

The court dismissed a petition seeking to invalidate the appointments, finding that the recruitment process complied with constitutional and legal requirements.

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File image of Caleb Amisi

However, the court held that the gazette notice published by the president was unlawful as it contravened an existing conservatory order.

As such, the court directed the president to issue a fresh gazette notice to regularise the appointments.

Following the ruling, President William Ruto appointed Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new IEBC chairperson for a period of six years.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 250 (2) as read with section 5 (2) of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act and Paragraph 4 of the First Schedule to the Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces appoint Erastus Edung Ethekon to be the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, for a period of six (6) years," the notice read.

At the same time, Ruto named six new commissioners to the electoral body.

The appointees are Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Arafhat Abdallah. 

The commissioners will also serve a six-year term.