Nairobi – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel is currently conducting interviews for candidates shortlisted for commissioner positions. The interviews, which are being held publicly at the College of Insurance in South C, Nairobi, began recently and are scheduled to continue until April 25, 2025. As part of the process, candidates are required to present their original national identification documents, academic certificates, and testimonials.

One notable incident during the interviews involved James Leiro Letangule, a candidate from Baringo South. When questioned about the Kapenguria Six, a group of Kenyan nationalists arrested in 1952, Letangule struggled to name all the members. While he correctly identified the late former president Jomo Kenyatta, he faltered on the other names and mistakenly included Dedan Kimathi, who was not part of the group. The Kapenguria Six included Bildad Kaggia, Kung'u Karumba, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, and Achieng' Oneko, in addition to Kenyatta. Despite this stumble, Leiro acknowledged his error and expressed his appreciation to the panel, promising to review the questions he had not answered adequately.

Leiro, 37, holds a PhD in Business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and has extensive experience in the health sector. He is currently a Manager at the Social Health Authority and has previously held positions at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and Siana Health Centre in Narok county.

The IEBC Selection Panel has assured the public of a fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment process. They emphasized the importance of selecting competent commissioners to ensure credible elections in the future. In a separate incident, Edward Ngeywa, an aspirant for the IEBC chairman position, struggled to provide a clear answer about the number of presidential candidates in the 2022 Kenyan General Election, raising concerns about his preparedness for the role.

In other news, KCB Bank Kenya has announced a reduction in its base lending rate, a move that is expected to benefit its customers. The bank stated on Wednesday that it would lower its base lending rate from 14.6 per cent to 13.85 per cent per annum. This decision comes after the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announced a cut to its benchmark lending rate (CBR) on Tuesday.

KCB clarified that the new rate would take effect for new loan facilities from April 11, 2025, and for existing facilities from May 11, 2025. The final lending rate for individual customers will be based on a customer-specific margin added to this new base rate. The reduction applies to Kenya Shilling-denominated loans, excluding fixed-rate credit.

The bank highlighted its continued implementation of the risk-based credit pricing model, which it anticipates will further enable customers with strong credit profiles to access more affordable loans. KCB said the rate cut was expected to support its clientele and stimulate broader economic activity in the country.

The CBK lowered its benchmark lending rate, the Central Bank Rate (CBR), by 75 basis points to 10.00 per cent down from 10.75 per cent. The central bank's latest rate cut is intended to encourage commercial banks to increase lending to the private sector and support a projected economic growth of 5.4 per cent this year, up from an estimated 4.6 per cent last year.