IEBC or Political Chessboard? Ruto, Raila Links Emerge in IEBC Nominee List
Fresh controversy has erupted over the nomination of seven individuals by President William Ruto to lead the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), with at least five of them linked—either directly or indirectly—to President Ruto or opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Concerns have been raised about the impartiality of the nominees, as some have previously served as political allies, legal consultants, or associates of key figures in the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions. The opposition has accused the President of sidelining bipartisan consultation in a process that is constitutionally required to be neutral and inclusive.
President Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as IEBC chairperson. Mr Ethekon previously served as Turkana County Attorney under then-Governor Josephat Nanok, a close associate of President Ruto and now Deputy Chief of Staff. Both Ethekon and Nanok were directors of Turkana County Rural Water Services, raising questions about their financial and political ties.
Also nominated is Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, who served as a legal consultant in the now-defunct Amani National Congress (ANC), a party founded by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. Dr Mukhwana has also been a member of a presidential taskforce on health human resources since 2024.
Mary Karen Sorobit, another appointee, is closely linked to President Ruto through past political engagements during his leadership of the United Republican Party (URP). She was also a member of the 2016 panel tasked with recruiting electoral commissioners ahead of the 2017 elections and later held senior positions within the Jubilee Party.
Fahima Araphat Abdallah’s nomination also raised eyebrows. She is a long-time ally of Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, a key Mudavadi supporter. Ms Abdallah has held multiple positions in the Lamu County government and currently serves on the County Assembly Service Board.
On the other side of the political divide, the nomination of Hassan Noor Hassan, a staunch ODM supporter, has attracted attention. Mr Hassan, who contested the Mandera governorship on an ODM ticket, is the brother-in-law of ODM insider and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed. His name was added to the shortlist days before the interviews commenced, prompting criticism over a lack of transparency.
Ann Nderitu, currently serving as Registrar of Political Parties, was also nominated as a commissioner. A former IEBC staffer, her appointment is viewed as a continuation of existing institutional networks. Prof. Francis Odhiambo Aduol, from Kisumu County, rounds out the list. He is a former Vice Chancellor of the Technical University of Kenya.
Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka has strongly opposed the nominations, accusing President Ruto of violating NADCO recommendations that called for bipartisan consultation in appointing IEBC officials. He warned that the process risks creating a low-trust institution ahead of the 2027 elections.
Civil society organizations, including the Elections Observer Group (ELOG), have echoed the opposition’s concerns, calling for the immediate release of the IEBC recruitment report to ensure transparency and accountability.
Despite the concerns, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula has directed the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to begin the approval process. The report is expected to be tabled by May 27, 2025.
The IEBC has remained inactive since January 2023 following the retirement of Chair Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye. The new appointments are expected to revive the electoral body, though growing scrutiny may prolong political tensions around its reconstitution.
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IEBC or Political Chessboard? Ruto, Raila Links Emerge in IEBC Nominee List
