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IEBC select panel constituted by President Ruto

The  new team will oversee recruitment of nominees

President William Ruto has constituted a nine team selection panel to the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after a long wait.

Through a Kenya Gazette notice shared to newsrooms, the Head of State activated the IEBC Act by appointing the  new team that will oversee recruitment of nominees for the next  Chairperson and members of the Elections body with the 2027 polls just slight over two years off.

The Gazette Notice No.715 dated January,27,2025 read ; In exercise of powers conferred by section 7A of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act as read with paragraph 1 (2) of the  First Schedule to the Act, I William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the  Defense Forces, appoint- “

“(2)(a) Kiome Linda Gakii and Prof Adams Oloo; (2)(b) James Evans Misati,Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Amb Koki Muli Grignon (2)(c) Carolene Kituku (2) (d) Andrew Tanui Kipkoech (2) (e)Dr Nelson  Makanda Fatuma Saman, to be members of the Selection Panel for the recruitment of nominees for appointment as the Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries  Commission. The appointments of the Members of the Selection Panel vide Gazette Notice No.2641 of 2023 is revoked.”

The appointment follows last Friday’s High Court decision on urgency of having IEBC in place, which lifted the earlier court orders that had barred their appointment. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was amongst the earlier leaders who urged the government to reconstitute the IEBC following the court ruling. The team was set to be sworn in today at the Supreme Court by Chief Justice Martha Koome and begin its work for reconstitution of the polls body. This move by the President is likely to hush the political temperatures in the country with players having a go at Kenya Kwanza administration for deliberately dragging the process to gain an advantage ahead of the next elections.

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Some of the key names in the list are Prof Adams Oloo who is Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s longtime confidante and incidentally now sits on the President’s Economic Council of Advisors. At the same time, Koki Muli is an insider for Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka with analysts suggesting that the select panel has the expertise to carry out their mandate.

CJ Koome urged the selection panel to uphold integrity in their duty asking them to reject any outside influence. “The responsibility you have is huge and it goes beyond legal calling. This is a solemn call to serve the people of Kenya. It is about safeguarding democracy. We have gone through unprecedented and unacceptable period where the IEBC have had no commissioners for close to two years now. This has caused disruption since some wards and constituencies have had no representation due to the stalemate. The credibility of election is at the heartbeat of democracy and if not well managed it erodes public trust.”

Koome went further; “We expect that you select persons of high caliber and on merit. This task is of utmost important. Please resist the urge of external pressure because this is important. The constitution is clear about governance issues and therefore unnecessary delays are not proper. As CJ,I have ensured case of IEBC were prioritized and dealt with because of interest therein. These institutions were formed to serve people.”

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula in his reaction to the select panel stated; “Following the gazettement of the members of the IEBC Selection Panel by the President William Ruto this morning, I have communicated to the Secretary to the Parliamentary Service Commission, Jeremiah Nyegenye to put in place all the necessary arrangements required to facilitate the work of the Panel as obligated by the law. The Act obligates the Commission to provide secretariat services, facilities to the Panel and to meet its expenditure. Further, noting this is a matter of huge national importance, I urge the Selection Panel to expedite and conclude the recruitment process of the IEBC commissioners, at the earliest available opportunity in accordance with the law.”

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The Opposition led by Kalonzo Musyoka has been on the case of the government following delays of reconstitution of the IEBC. The former Vice-president even sensationally claimed a few days ago that there was a ploy to print excess ballots. “There is a Plot to Relocate IEBC Servers and Print Excess Election Material to rig the 2027 General Elections”. We demand that President Ruto move with speed to put in place the nine-person IEBC Selection Panel,” he said in an earlier press interview.

 

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