Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) nominees are set to face vetting on May 26, 2025, by the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
According to a public notice published in the local dailies on May 12, 2025, National Assembly Clerk Samwel Njoroge indicated that the chairperson and the six nominees for members of the electoral body will also be vetted on the same day.
“It is notified to the general public that, pursuant to Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and Section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), the vetting process of the nominees will be conducted on Monday, May 26, 2025, in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings, at 9:00 am,” read the notice in part.
Similarly, the National Assembly has invited Kenyans to submit their views on the suitability of the nominees by submitting sworn statements with supporting evidence contesting their suitability.
“Submissions must be made to the Clerk of the National Assembly by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, “ the notice read.
During the vetting process, nominees are required to present clearance certificates from the EACC, KRA, HELB, DCI, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, and the Credit Reference Bureau.
Nominations
The process comes after President William Ruto submitted the names of the nominees for approval hearings ahead of their appointment on May 8, 2025.
President Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the next IEBC chairperson, alongside Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu (Nyandarua) and Moses Alutalala Mukhwana (Kakamega) as commissioners.
Other nominees include: Mary Karen Sorobit (Uasin Gishu), Hassan Noor Hassan (Mandera), Francis Odhiambo Aduol (Kisumu), and Fahima Araphat Abdallah (Lamu).
“In accordance with our supreme law, the nominations have been transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament, in accordance with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act as well as the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Chapter 7F, Laws of Kenya),” Head of Public Service Felix Koskei announced.
“In recognition of the indispensable role of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as one of the cornerstone institutions of our democracy and a custodian of electoral management, His Excellency the President has urged the National Assembly to prioritise the consideration of these nominations,” he added.
Edung Ethokot is set to replace the late IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati, who died at a Nairobi hospital in February 2025 following a long illness, aged 63.
