President William Ruto has officially received the report on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The report was handed over to him at State House Nairobi by the IEBC Selection Panel, led by Dr. Nelson Makanda.

President Ruto commended the panel for what he described as a thorough and commendable job in identifying suitable candidates.

“In accordance with the provisions of the IEBC Act, I will nominate and transmit the names to the National Assembly in full fidelity to the constitutional principles that guide our system of governance,” he said.

The selection panel, tasked with filling the chairperson and six commissioner positions, concluded its work following a month-long vetting exercise that ended on April 25.

Interviews for the IEBC chairperson were finalized on March 26, followed by the commissioner interviews which ran until late April.

A total of 11 candidates were interviewed for the top chairperson post.

They included former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi and former Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Chairperson Charles Nyachae.

Other candidates were Saul Simiyu Wasilwa, Abdulqadir Lorot Ramadhan, Joy Mdivo, Edward Katama Ngeywa, Erastus Edung Ethekon, Francis Kakai Kissinger, Jacob Ngwele Muvengei, Lilian Wanjiku Manegene, and Robert Akumu Asembo.

The law requires the panel to forward two names for the chairperson position to the President, who will then nominate one for vetting by Parliament. Sources suggest that Nyachae, Ethekon, Mdivo, Amadi, and Lorot are among the top contenders.

For the commissioner positions, 111 candidates had been shortlisted, and 106 attended interviews.

The panel is expected to submit nine names, from which the President will pick six, subject to parliamentary approval.

The final list of 11 nominees is expected to be submitted to President Ruto by May 9.

The panel will retreat from April 28 to compile its final report, after Parliament extended its deadline to May 12.

Political leaders have urged President Ruto to consult widely before making the appointments.

Many believe that inclusive consultations will help restore public confidence in the IEBC, especially with the 2027 general election and several pending by-elections fast approaching.

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