A candidate for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissioner(IEBC) position has withdrawn his application interviews kicks off at Kenyatta International Convention Cente(KICC).
Abdalla Mohamed will no longer be taking part in the exercise, over a forged degree.
Chairperson Dr Elizabeth Muli said the panel wrote to universities and other agencies on June 28 to seek authenticity of candidates documents and Kenya Methodist University responded saying Abdalla had not obtained a degree from the institution as had been alleged.
“The panel received a feedback from the university on July 1, 2021, confirming that Abdalla was not awarded the degree and was not a student in the university,” she said.
KEMU Vice-Chancellor wrote back on July 1 denying that the applicant was a student at the institution. “This is to confirm Abdalla Mohammed was Not a student of Kenya Methodist University. The academic certificate BUS-1-206-05 was not issued at Kemu and is, therefore, a forgery,” the VC said responding to the panel’s letter.
According to Muli, said they informed Abdalla of the reply from the university on July 6 via mail, and he thanked the panel for its correspondence and said he will not appear for the interview.
Additionally, Muli noted the Selection Panel remains committed to ensuring that the persons nominated for appointment to the position of member of the IEBC are persons who are qualified for the position and who meet all the requirements set out in the Constitution and the Law.
Abdalla was among 36 candidates seeking positions for the IEBC commissioner, and the first to be interviewed on Wednesday morning.
However, the pannel resumed at half-past 11, with Dr Abdirizak Arale Nunow and Anne Mwikali Kiusya who had been scheduled to be the second candidate.
There are about 36 shortlisted candidates.
The four positions were left vacant following the unceremonious exit of Roselyne Akombe, Paul Kurgat, Connie Maina and Margaret Mwachanya after the 2017 General Elections.
The shortlisted candidates are; former Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board vice-chairperson Roseline Doreen Adhiambo Odede (Siaya) and former Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) chairperson Kagwiria Mbogori (Meru).
Former KNCHR chairperson Florence Simbiri-Jaoko (Nairobi), Koki Muli and former NCIC commissioner Joseph Gitile Naituli (Meru) are also on the shortlist.
Led by Muli, other members of IEBC selection panel are Gideon Solonka, James Awuori, Elizabeth Odundo, Dorothy Kimengech, Joseph Mutie and Farudin Abdalla.
All the candidates were subjected to a psychometric test, a week before the oral interviews to assess their levels of emotional intelligence.
The test, which was followed by a case study, took place at KICC.
The interviews are being conducted in public in line with the First Schedule to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, 2011.
