President William Ruto wants the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to have new commissioners as soon as possible. He urged the selection panel responsible for choosing the new team to speed things up.
The president made these remarks on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of having a new IEBC in place for the upcoming Malava by-election. He called on those tasked with the responsibility to expedite the process.
The selection panel consists of nine members nominated by various organizations, including the Law Society of Kenya, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Political Parties Liaison Committee, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.
Dr. Nelson Makanda has been elected as the panel's chairperson, with Lindah Kiome serving as the vice chairperson. On February 1, they officially invited Kenyans to submit their applications for the IEBC positions by February 15.
The panel has outlined the next steps in the process. The final list of successful candidates is expected to be forwarded to the president for appointment on April 25. After that, the names will be sent to Parliament for vetting before the new commissioners take office.
Vice Chairperson Kiome clarified that since the panel is new, the process starts from scratch. She also expressed hope that the positions of chairperson and members of the IEBC will be fully constituted by May this year.
The selection panel has a strict 90-day timeline to establish a fully constituted IEBC, meaning they must deliver on their mandate by April 27, 2025. President Ruto appointed the nine-member panel via a gazette notice on January 27, ending a nearly three-year delay due to legal disputes over the team's composition.
During the panel's swearing-in ceremony, Chief Justice Martha Koome emphasized the importance of selecting individuals with unquestionable integrity to lead the IEBC. She stressed that the future of Kenya's democracy depends on the credibility and impartiality of the commissioners chosen by the panel.
The president made these remarks on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of having a new IEBC in place for the upcoming Malava by-election. He called on those tasked with the responsibility to expedite the process.
The selection panel consists of nine members nominated by various organizations, including the Law Society of Kenya, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Political Parties Liaison Committee, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.
Dr. Nelson Makanda has been elected as the panel's chairperson, with Lindah Kiome serving as the vice chairperson. On February 1, they officially invited Kenyans to submit their applications for the IEBC positions by February 15.
The panel has outlined the next steps in the process. The final list of successful candidates is expected to be forwarded to the president for appointment on April 25. After that, the names will be sent to Parliament for vetting before the new commissioners take office.
Vice Chairperson Kiome clarified that since the panel is new, the process starts from scratch. She also expressed hope that the positions of chairperson and members of the IEBC will be fully constituted by May this year.
The selection panel has a strict 90-day timeline to establish a fully constituted IEBC, meaning they must deliver on their mandate by April 27, 2025. President Ruto appointed the nine-member panel via a gazette notice on January 27, ending a nearly three-year delay due to legal disputes over the team's composition.
During the panel's swearing-in ceremony, Chief Justice Martha Koome emphasized the importance of selecting individuals with unquestionable integrity to lead the IEBC. She stressed that the future of Kenya's democracy depends on the credibility and impartiality of the commissioners chosen by the panel.
