Interviews for IEBC chair, commissioners to begin in March — selection panel
Interviews for individuals seeking to serve as commissioners of the electoral commission will begin in mid-March 2025, the selection panel has announced.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel Chairperson Dr Nelson Makanda on Monday said oral interviews would run for two weeks.
“In the next week, we will review the applications and shortlist candidates before publishing their names in the print media and the Kenya Gazette,” Dr Makanda said during an interview on NTV’s and Nation FM’s morning show ‘Fixing the Nation’.
By the time the application window closed on February 15, he said, the selection panel had received a total of 1,848 applications for the positions of chairperson and commissioners.
“In the coming days, we will examine the long list of applicants and finalise the shortlist of those who will be interviewed,” Dr Makanda explained, saying applications were submitted both digitally in PDF format and physically at the panel’s secretariat on the third floor of the County House Building.
The official assured the public that the selection panel would uphold integrity in the recruitment process to ensure Kenyans get a competent and courageous IEBC team.
“We will not compromise on integrity. The commissioners we recruit must be able to withstand pressure, especially from politicians during elections. We need individuals who can deliver a free, fair, transparent, and verifiable election,” Dr Makanda said.
Members of the IEBC selection panel in a group photo with Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Citing the 2017 presidential election nullification by the then Chief Justice David Maraga, Dr Makanda emphasized the need for commissioners who can make firm decisions and stand by them.
“We need courageous individuals who can uphold the law and defend their decisions, even under intense scrutiny,” he said.
The chairperson reiterated the panel’s commitment to a fair process that includes young people.
“I hope young people have applied to be IEBC commissioners. The interview process will be conducted openly. The selection panel is committed to a fair and transparent process. We will keep Kenyans informed throughout,” he said.
The selection panel has until April 25 to finalise the recruitment of a new IEBC team.
Once the shortlisting and interviews are completed, the panel will submit two names for the chairperson position and nine for commissioner positions to President William Ruto.
The president will then nominate one person as chairperson and six as commissioners.
Within seven days, the names will be forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting and approval before formal appointments are made.
The nine-member selection panel, chaired by Dr Makanda was appointed by President Ruto on January 27, 2025 and took their oaths of office before Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Dr Nelson Makanda takes his oath during the swearing in ceremony of the IEBC selection panel at the Supreme Court in Nairobi on Monday, January 27.
The team has 85 days to complete the recruitment process which includes shortlisting, interviews and submission of final names.
Panel members include Vice Chairperson Lindah Kiome, Dr Fatuma Saman, Prof Adams Oloo, Mr James Misati, Mr Nicodemus Bore, Dr Koki Muli, Mr Andrew Tanui, and Ms Caroline Kituku.
The recruitment of new IEBC commissioners has been a drawn-out and contentious process following the departure of the previous officeholders.
Also Read: Why did IEBC commissioners resign?
The IEBC has been without commissioners since the exit of former chairperson Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu in January 2023, when their terms expired.
Three other commissioners Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi resigned amid political controversy, while Irene Masit was dismissed after a tribunal process.