National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has issued directives to Members of Parliament following the nomination of the IEBC Chairman and Commissioners amid a brewing storm from the opposition.
In a notice dated Monday, May 5, 2025, Wetangula instructed MPs to begin vetting the nominees on Monday, May 26, 2025.
“It is notified to the general public that pursuant to Article 118[1](b) of the Constitution and section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 77), the Departmental Committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs shall conduct Approval Hearings (Vetting) of the nominees on Monday, 26 May 2025, in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings at 9:30am as per the schedule below,” read part of the notice.
Wetangula on vetting IEBC Nominees
At the same time, members of the public have been invited to submit their opinions on the suitability of the nominees selected by President William Ruto on Thursday, April 8, 2025, to the Clerk of the National Assembly, P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi, or hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk, Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, or emailed to [email protected] by Wednesday, May 21, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.
“In compliance with Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and section 6(19) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), the Clerk of the National Assembly hereby invites members of the public to submit any representations they may have, by way of written statements on oath (affidavits) with supporting evidence contesting the suitability of the candidates for appointment to the offices they have been nominated to,” read the notice.
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According to the notice, nominees are required to appear for the approval hearings with their original identity cards, academic and professional certificates, and other relevant testimonials.
Additionally, they are required to present the following certificates of compliance from the specified institutions:
(a) The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission
(b) The Kenya Revenue Authority
(c) The Higher Education Loans Board
(d) The Directorate of Criminal Investigations
(e) The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties
(f) A Credit Reference Bureau.
IEBC Nominees Selected by President Ruto
The IEBC nominees selected by President William Ruto include:
- Erastus Edung Ethekon – Chairperson
- Ann Njeri Nderitu – Member
- Moses Alutalala Mukhwana – Member
- Mary Karen Sorobit – Member
- Mr. Hassan Noor Hassan – Member
- Mr. Francis Odhiambo Aduol – Member
- Ms. Fahima Araphat Abdalla – Member.
President Ruto arrived at the nominees after receiving the report from the selection panel chaired by Dr. Nelson Makanda.
Also Read: Alutalala Mukhwana: Profile of Human Rights Activist Picked to Join IEBC
The commission has operated without a fully constituted leadership since January 17, 2023, when the term of its previous chairperson, the late Wafula Chebukati, expired.
Chebukati’s tenure, which began in 2017 under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, was marked by controversy, especially during the 2017 and 2022 general elections.
The Supreme Court annulled the 2017 presidential election results due to irregularities, prompting a rerun that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga boycotted.
Storm Over IEBC Nominees
Opposition politicians have rejected President Ruto’s nominees as 2027 beckons. Wiper Leader Kalonzo has said that Ruto picked the chairman and commissioners without consulting the opposition. At the same time, Kalonzo claimed that Ruto did not respond to his letter on the selection process.
“The most important word in IEBC is “Independent“. We insist on not only inclusivity but consultation and concurrence, and that the IEBC must be independent. What we have right now in the nominees is a William Ruto IEBC,” noted Kalonzo.
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