Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa stepped into the heated debate surrounding President William Ruto's latest electoral commission picks. The outspoken politician declared that having flawed leadership beats having no leadership at all for the country's election body. Thang'wa fired off his thoughts on social media Friday, telling supporters they would settle the matter at the ballot box. His remarks came after Ruto officially named new bosses for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission through government notices. The move sparked fresh controversy when courts previously declared similar appointments violated constitutional procedures.
The electoral commission has been running on empty since former chairman Wafula Chebukati and his team of commissioners walked away from their posts. Boya Molu, Abdi Guliye, Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang'aya all departed, leaving the critical institution scrambling. Ruto responded by picking Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new chairman for a six-year stretch. The president also selected six commissioners including Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Fahima Araphat Abdallah. Each commissioner received identical six-year appointments through separate official notices dated July 10.
High Court judges threw a wrench into the process by ruling Ruto's gazette announcements broke the law. Justices Bahati Mwamuye, John Chigiti, and Roselyne Aburili found the president ignored court orders when he published the appointments. The three-judge panel declared the gazettement null and void while keeping the actual nominations intact. The nominees cannot assume their positions until proper legal procedures get completed. The court praised the selection process itself but slammed the rushed publication method.
The electoral commission has been running on empty since former chairman Wafula Chebukati and his team of commissioners walked away from their posts. Boya Molu, Abdi Guliye, Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang'aya all departed, leaving the critical institution scrambling. Ruto responded by picking Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new chairman for a six-year stretch. The president also selected six commissioners including Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Fahima Araphat Abdallah. Each commissioner received identical six-year appointments through separate official notices dated July 10.
High Court judges threw a wrench into the process by ruling Ruto's gazette announcements broke the law. Justices Bahati Mwamuye, John Chigiti, and Roselyne Aburili found the president ignored court orders when he published the appointments. The three-judge panel declared the gazettement null and void while keeping the actual nominations intact. The nominees cannot assume their positions until proper legal procedures get completed. The court praised the selection process itself but slammed the rushed publication method.
