By Kamadi Amata
IEBC Selection Panel Assumes Mandate Following Presidential Appointment.
The selection panel tasked with recruiting commissioners for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has officially assumed its mandate.
President William Ruto appointed the seven-member team, which includes Kiome Lindah Gakii, Prof. Oloo Adams, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Amb. Koki Muli Grignon, and Carolene Kituku. Other members are Tanui Andrew Kipkoech, Dr. Nelson Makanda, and Fatuma Saman.
During the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, Chief Justice Martha Koome urged the panel to carry out its critical role with precision, emphasizing the importance of appointing commissioners of the highest integrity.
“The commissioners you appoint must be individuals of untainted credibility—committed to independence, impartiality, and the principles enshrined in our Constitution. The IEBC is not just another government agency; it is the custodian of our electoral integrity, and its composition must reflect the highest standards of professionalism and credibility,” said Koome.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula also directed the Secretary to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), Jeremiah Nyegenye, to make all necessary arrangements to support the panel’s work.
“The Act obligates the Commission to provide secretariat services, facilities to the panel, and to meet its expenditure,” Wetangula stated on X (formerly Twitter).
He added, “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 opportunity, in accordance with the law.”
Last Friday, the High Court cleared the way for President Ruto to appoint the panel by dismissing a petition challenging its constitution. This development followed mounting pressure on the president to urgently establish the IEBC selection panel amid claims of interfering with independent institutions and stalling electoral reforms.