Proposed chairman for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Erastus Ethekon, has denied having ties with Josphat Nanok, the deputy chief of staff at State House, Nairobi.

After President William Ruto nominated Ethekon earlier this month, claims emerged that he was close to Nanok, and hence, conflicts of interest would be at play should he be approved as the IEBC chairman.

The nominee is known to have served as Turkana county attorney during the governorship of Nanok.

The question of their relationship came up during the vetting of Ethekon by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) on Saturday, May 31.

Kanduyi MP John Makali and Rarieda's Otiende Amollo presented a petition against Ethekon owing to his apparent links with Nanok.

Those objecting to his chairmanship in the IEBC expressed fears of him being commandeered by the state through the state house deputy chief of staff.

"There is an objection and perception that you will be biased in favour of the current president by virtue of the fact that you have an associate with the former governor of Turkana," asked Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.

Ethekon clarified not having any close relations with Nanok, implying their relationship was based on his service to the county.

“For the record, not even close, not at the clan level, let alone family. We come from different villages and have no relationship whatsoever, whether by marriage or extended family,” he said.

He, however, appreciated that he would always relate to people in his daily life, course of duty and career, but that would not inform how he carries himself, especially when it comes to public service.

That he served under Nanok should not be an issue of concern to the public.

“No man is an Island, but what the constitution tells us is that the IEBC is an independent commission and must not be under the control or direction of any person or authority. I, as the chairman, if you confirm me and I misbehave in the process, the provisions of the constitution are clear, a petition can be filed to remove me for any gross misconduct, violation of the constitution, or incompetence. The nation should not worry about the many relationships we have had as we grow along our career paths or life,” Ethekon stated.

Source: TUKO.co.ke