Top Contenders for IEBC Chair Role Revealed

The selection process for the chairperson of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is drawing to a close, with the selection panel focused on four leading candidates. 

This critical juncture comes as the panel intensifies its efforts to meet an extended deadline, aiming to identify the most qualified individual to lead the electoral body. The four frontrunners, according to sources within the IEBC selection panel, are Mr. Erastus Edung Ethekon (Turkana), Mr. Abdulqadir Lorot Ramadhan (Baringo), Ms. Anne Amadi (Homa Bay), and Mr. Charles Nyachae (Kisii). These candidates have emerged from a pool of 11 individuals interviewed for the position. 

The panel is expected to forward two names to President William Ruto, who will then nominate one candidate for consideration by the National Assembly, in accordance with the IEBC Act. The selection panel, composed of nine members, is also nearing completion of interviews for other commission members. This reconstitution is vital, as the IEBC is tasked with overseeing the 2027 General Election, conducting overdue electoral boundaries delimitation, and managing several outstanding by-elections. Political affiliations appear to exert influence on the selection process. 

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by Raila Odinga, is reportedly inclined towards Mr. Ethekon, a lawyer, or Mr. Ramadhan, a chief magistrate currently serving at the Naivasha Law Courts. Simultaneously, President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is said to favour Ms. Amadi, a former Registrar of the Judiciary, or Mr. Nyachae, the former chairperson of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution. An ODM official highlights the potential of the younger candidates, Mr. Ethekon and Mr. Ramadhan, praising their performance during the interviews and emphasising the need for fresh perspectives in public service. 

“Ms. Amadi and Mr. Nyachae have had their time in the limelight. It’s time for others to step forward and serve,” the official notes, reflecting a broader sentiment about the need for generational change in leadership.

The IEBC Act stipulates that the selection panel must conclude its work within 90 days of its appointment. Appointed on January 27 via a Gazette notice, the panel's mandate was subsequently extended by 14 days through a resolution passed in both Houses of Parliament in late March. This extension has allowed for more thorough candidate assessments and the finalisation of recommendations.

The urgency of reconstituting the IEBC is underscored by the delays in critical constitutional obligations, such as electoral boundaries delimitation and the holding of by-elections. The appointment process is further informed by recommendations from South African judge Johan Kriegler, who chaired the Independent Review Commission on Kenya’s contentious 2007 elections. Kriegler emphasised the necessity of having commissioners in place at least two years before a general election to ensure adequate preparation and training.

The impetus to fill these positions has been intensified by recent challenges within the IEBC. The six-year terms of former chairperson Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye ended in January 2023. Furthermore, three commissioners—Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyangaya, and Francis Wanderi—resigned under pressure following a tribunal investigating their conduct after the 2022 elections. Irene Masit, the only commissioner to face the tribunal, was subsequently removed by President Ruto upon her recommendation.

These departures have left the commission significantly understaffed, hindering its ability to fulfil essential electoral responsibilities, including addressing vacancies in constituencies such as Banissa, Magarini, and Ugunja. The Supreme Court’s nullification of certain elections and Cabinet appointments of former MPs has further underscored the need for by-elections, heightening the criticality of selecting new IEBC leadership.

The reconstitution of the IEBC carries national significance, directly impacting the integrity and effectiveness of Kenya’s electoral system. Delays in by-elections have already sparked concerns regarding adherence to constitutional requirements. The selection of a new chairperson will significantly shape the commission’s readiness for the 2027 elections, a crucial test for Kenya’s democratic processes.