The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel has assured the country that a new electoral body will be in place by the end of April, easing concerns about a potential constitutional crisis.
The panel, which is responsible for selecting new IEBC commissioners, revealed that over 300 applications had been received ahead of the February 15, 2025, deadline.
The selection process aims to ensure that only credible individuals take charge of the commission ahead of the next General Election.
Speaking in Naivasha during a five-day stakeholder engagement workshop, the panel’s chairperson, Dr. Nelson Makanda, confirmed that as of Monday, February 10, 2025, a total of 339 applications had been submitted. He emphasized that the application process remains open and will close on Saturday, February 15, in line with the advertised guidelines.
“As provided for in the IEBC Act Cap. 7C, ‘the Selection Panel shall, within seven days of its appointment, invite applications from qualified persons.’ We, therefore, called for applications through newspaper advertisements on February 1, 2025, and published the same in the Kenya Gazette on February 3. As of February 10, we had received 339 applications,” Dr. Makanda stated.
As the deadline approaches, the panel is engaging with key stakeholders to ensure a transparent and efficient selection process. Panel vice-chairperson, Lindah Kiome, clarified that those who had submitted applications in 2023 must reapply since this is a new process with fresh deadlines.
The panel reiterated its commitment to conducting a fair and transparent recruitment process in strict adherence to the Constitution, the IEBC Act, and other relevant laws.
During the Naivasha workshop, Public Service Commission (PSC) CEO and Secretary, Paul Famba, guided the panel on best practices for selection and recruitment. Additionally, Chief Human Resource Manager at the Parliamentary Joint Services, Margaret Igane, took panel members through the longlisting and shortlisting processes. The training also covered interview techniques and the application of human resource tools to ensure the recruitment of the most qualified candidates.
With the selection process on track, the panel remains optimistic that Kenya will have a fully constituted IEBC by April, setting the stage for a well-prepared electoral commission ahead of the next polls.
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