Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

President William Ruto has officially appointed a nine-member selection panel tasked with recruiting nominees for the positions of chairperson and six other commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The decision comes in the wake of Friday, January 24's High Court ruling, which lifted previous court orders that had halted the appointments.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7A of the IEBC Act, as read with paragraph 1 (2) of the First Schedule to the Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, president of the Republic of Kenya and commander-in-chief of the defence forces, appoint...to be members of the selection panel for the recruitment of nominees for appointment as the chairperson and members of the IEBC," read the gazette notice dated Monday, January 27.

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The newly appointed panel comprises Kiome Linda Gakii, Oloo Adams, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Koki Muli Grignon, Carolene Kituku, Tanui Andrew Kipkoech, Nelson Makanda, and Fatuma Suman.

The appointees were drawn from five organisations as stipulated in the IEBC Bill 2024.

These organisations include the Political Parties Liaison Committee, the Inter-Religious Council, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya, and the Parliamentary Service Commission.

In line with this development, the president also revoked the earlier Gazette Notice No. 2641 of 2023.

This move sets the stage for a revamped IEBC, as the panel begins identifying qualified individuals to fill these pivotal roles.

The decision relieves several leaders who had accused the president of deliberately delaying the process as the country nears the 2027 General Election.

Meanwhile, the ruling, delivered by Justice Dola Chepkwony, marked a significant step forward in the process of reconstituting the IEBC.

The judge dismissed allegations that the panel's composition lacked inclusivity, particularly concerning the representation of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).

In her decision, Justice Chepkwony noted that there was insufficient evidence to support claims that PWDs were excluded or that the panel failed to meet the constitutional requirements for gender and regional balance.

Source: TUKO.co.ke