Ethekon takes over as IEBC chair with promise of integrity and delivering credible, free and fair polls
He called upon all the institutions and stakeholders to collaborate ahead of the upcoming by-elections and the next General Election
Newly sworn-in Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon has promised to deliver transparent and credible elections, even as he urged that it is a responsibility for all Kenyans.
In his remarks after the swearing-in by Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya, in the presence of Chief Justice Martha Koome at the Supreme Court in Nairobi, Ethekon said IEBC’s mandate will be carried out with integrity and complete commitment to the law, along with the expectations of the general public.
“Free and fair and credible elections are the cornerstone of our democratic society. The IEBC is entrusted with the solemn responsibility to ensure that every citizen’s voice is not only heard but honoured,” Ethekon stated.
He emphasised the power of Kenyans as he pointed out Article 1 of the Constitution, pledging his loyalty to them, assuring that they shall be heard.
“I therefore wish to assure Kenyans that their voices will not only be heard, but they will also count during the coming elections,” Ethekon added.
He addressed the challenges of misinformation and fake news, saying they pose a serious threat to public trust in electoral processes, as he noted this is also an opportunity to engage the media in fostering transparency.
“We also have an opportunity to work with those news outlets to ensure that we educate, we inform, and we focus on factual truths… so that we build trust in the credibility of our institutions such as IEBC,” he said.
He reminded the public that credible elections require joint effort beyond the commission.
“A credible election is not a responsibility of the IEBC alone. It is a national responsibility,” he urged.
He called upon all the institutions and stakeholders to collaborate ahead of the upcoming by-elections and the next General Election.
Joining Ethekon at the commission are Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
The swearing-in followed fresh Gazette Notices by President William Ruto, regularising the appointments after a court quashed previous notices due to procedural issues.
