The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel has committed to fully constituting the electoral commission in 85 days.
In a press statement by Nelson Makanda, a panel member who was elected to be chairperson, the panel has given the assurance that they will hit the ground running and deliver the body as demanded by the constitution.
“For the next 85 days or less, we, as the Selection Panel, have undertaken to ensure that we deliver on our mandate of giving Kenyans the next Chairperson and Members of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” Makanda said.
Makanda also revealed that in line with the constitutional requirement that the selection committee invites applications for the positions of chairperson and members of the IEBC, an official communication would be made on Saturday, February 1, 2025.
Application for IEBC members
“Further, as you are aware, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act provides that the selection panel shall, within seven days of its appointment, invite applications from qualified persons and publish the names of all applicants and their qualifications in the Gazette, two newspapers of national circulation and on the website of the Parliamentary Service Commission,” he added.
Makanda equally revealed the reason why two members of the IEBC selection panel failed to turn up for the swearing-in on January 27, 2025.
In his statement, Makanda said that Fatuma Saman and Carolene Kituku had been out of the country during the exercise. The two were sworn in on Friday, January 31, 2025.
Reason for missing swearing-in
While presiding over the swearing-in ceremony, CJ Koome challenged the members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) selection panel to pick individuals of untainted credibility to lead the electoral body ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Notably, only seven members of the panel took the oath of office as two of us; Fatuma Saman and Carolene Kituku were out of the country. However, the two have taken their oaths today, Friday 31 January 2025. This paved way for us, to hold our first sitting, to elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from amongst the members,” Makanda noted
“I am glad to inform you, that we concluded this exercise and I am happy to stand before you having been elected the Chairperson of the Selection Panel. Further, the Selection Panel elected Lindah Kiome as the Vice-Chairperson of the Panel.”
Besides Koome, various stakeholders called on the selection panel to expedite the nomination process that would the country get the commissioners on time. On his part, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula raised fears that the exercise of boundary delimitation may not be carried out due to the time factor.
