President William Ruto on June 10, 2025, appointed a new chairperson and six commissioners to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), according to Gazette Notices No. 7724 and 7725 dated June 10, 2025.
The appointments came despite a court order temporarily halting the IEBC’s reconstitution pending the outcome of a legal challenge.
Last month, the High Court allowed Parliament to vet Ruto’s nominees to the IEBC Selection Panel.
However, Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued conservatory orders barring the publication of appointment notices and the swearing-in of the panel members.
Ruto made the appointments after the National Assembly vetted the nominees.
Also Read: Man Sentenced to Death for Stealing Tecno Phone and Ksh30,000
IEBC Chairperson and Commissioners Appointed by Ruto
President Ruto appointed Erastus Edung’ Ethekon IEBC chairperson for a period of six year.
At the same time, the head of state named Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Fahima Araphat Abdallah as commissioners.
The court is expected to rule on the matter after addressing several constitutional concerns raised in the petition.
The ruling followed a petition filed by activists Boniface Mwangi and Kelvin Roy Omondi, who argued that the selection process was unconstitutional.
Justice Mugambi acknowledged the importance of these concerns and stated that they raise substantial legal questions.
As a result, he referred the matter to Chief Justice Martha Koome for the empanelment of a bench to hear and determine the constitutional issues raised.
Vetting Approval
The ruling effectively placed the final appointment of IEBC panel members on hold pending further judicial review that was scheduled for June 23.
Also Read Parliament Committee Approves Nomination of New IEBC Chairperson
The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) had issued its report on the nomination of Erastus Edung Ethekon as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson.
JLAC in its report on Tuesday, June 3, approved the nomination of Ethekon’s nomination and six others as members of the commission following successful vetting sessions.
During vetting process, the IEBC chairperson nominee committed to upholding the law if picked as the commission’s new boss, assuring that he would be impartial in his role to ensure free and fair elections.
“I will play my role as Chairperson in that, I will be guided by the laws of Kenya and through that fidelity to the law, I should be able to follow all the laid down processes that will lead us to credible, free, verifiable elections,” Ethekon said.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
