Waqo, eight others shortlisted for IEBC CEO job ahead of 2027 polls
The other shortlisted candidates are Anthony Omerikwa of Busia, Harley Mutisya of Makueni, Edmund Odiwuor Malitt of Homa Bay, Andrew Gitau Kimani of Nairobi, Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi of Wajir, Edward Katama Ngeywa of Trans Nzoia, Martina Wato Yattani of Marsabit and Nelly Ilongo of Taita Taveta.
Former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo is among nine candidates shortlisted for interviews for the position of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, as the electoral agency moves to fill the top administrative position ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Waqo is scheduled to appear before the selection panel on November 12, 2026, at 10.30am, according to a shortlist released by the commission on Wednesday.
The interviews will run for two days, November 12 and 13, with the IEBC indicating that candidates will be notified individually of their interview venues.
The other shortlisted candidates are Anthony Omerikwa of Busia, Harley Mutisya of Makueni, Edmund Odiwuor Malitt of Homa Bay, Andrew Gitau Kimani of Nairobi, Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi of Wajir, Edward Katama Ngeywa of Trans Nzoia, Martina Wato Yattani of Marsabit and Nelly Ilongo of Taita Taveta.
Omerikwa is the acting chief executive officer of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
The nine candidates were selected following an assessment of 304 valid applications received by the commission after it advertised the position in print media and on its website on July 28, 2026. The application deadline was August 11 at 5pm.
In a notice announcing the shortlist, the IEBC said the recruitment considered inclusion, particularly gender, regional balance and the representation of persons with disabilities.
The applications were evaluated against criteria including Kenyan citizenship, completeness and validity of submitted documents, compliance with Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity, and relevant professional experience commensurate with the responsibilities of the position.
The shortlisted candidates must present original identification documents, academic and professional certificates, transcripts, testimonials and clearance certificates from the EACC, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Revenue Authority, Higher Education Loans Board and a registered Credit Reference Bureau.
The commission warned that canvassing would result in automatic disqualification, emphasising that recruitment would be conducted through a merit-based, fair and open competition.
The recruitment follows a series of acting appointments since the departure of former Commission Secretary and CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, who resigned on February 3, 2026, after serving in the position from 2022.
In February, Deputy Commission Secretary and Director of Electoral Operations Moses Ledama Sunkuli was appointed acting CEO for six months. His tenure ended before a substantive replacement was recruited.
In August, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon appointed Deputy Commission Secretary in charge of Operations Ruth Kulundu as acting Commission Secretary and CEO for two months or until the recruitment process was concluded.
The successful candidate will oversee the day-to-day administration of the IEBC Secretariat, implement commission decisions, manage finances and coordinate preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The appointment comes at a critical time for the commission as it prepares to manage the next nationwide electoral exercise and strengthen its administrative capacity ahead of the polls.
