The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel has shortlisted candidates for the chairperson of the IEBC, among them former East African Court of Justice judge Charles Nyachae and former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi.
In a notice in newspapers on Friday, March 14, 2025, the Nelson Makanda-led selection panel disclosed that oral interviews would be conducted for the 11 shortlisted candidates between Monday, March 24, 2025, and Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
Other people who have made it into the IEBC chairperson interviews include former deputy chief registrar of the Judiciary Kakai Kissinger and Kenya Power chairperson Joy Mdivo, who served in President William Ruto’s election campaign team in 2022 and in the UDA dispute resolution committee.
Oswago dropped
Former IEBC CEO James Oswago failed to make it on the shortlist after he was named in a longlist with 37 others who had expressed interest in leading the electoral body.
The interviews, which will be carried out at the Ballroom of the College of Insurance in South C, will begin on Monday, March 24, 2025, with Abdulqadir Lorot at 8:30 am, Anne Amadi at 11:00 am, Charles Nyachae at 2:00 pm, and Edward Katama Ngeywa at 4:30 pm.
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Erastus Ethekon will be interviewed at 8:30 am, followed by Kakai Kissinger at 11:00 am, Jacob Muvengei at 2:00 pm, and Joy Mdivo at 4:30 pm.
On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Lilian Wanjiku will open the interviews at 8:30 am, followed by Robert Akumu Asembo at 11:00 am and Saul Simiyu Wasilwa at 2:00 pm.
110 shortlisted for commissioners
The section panel has also shortlisted 110 candidates who had applied for the positions of six commissioners of the IEBC.
The interviews for members of the IEBC commission will commence on Thursday, March 27, 2025, and run until Thursday, April 24, 2025.
For the shortlisted candidates, the selection panel has revealed that the interviews will be done in public and that candidates should avail original copies of their identity cards or passports, testimonials, certificates, clearance from the DCI, HELB, KRA, EACC, and the Commission for University Education (CUE) for applicants with university degrees.
The selection panel is set to submit two names of successful candidates for the position of chairperson to the president, who shall appoint one as the chairperson of the IEBC.
Also, the panel shall submit nine names of successful candidates for the position of members of the IEBC commission to the president, who shall pick six.
