President William Ruto Monday appointed members of the selection panel tasked with recruiting nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The nominees were set to be sworn in to office and start their work, officials said.
This came as a petitioner threatened further court action to stop the whole process.
The nominees are Prof. Adams Oloo, Dr. Nelson Makanda, Fatuma Saman, Amb. Koki Muli, Evans Misati, Nicodemus Bore Kipchirchir, Andrew Tanui Kipkoech, Carolene Kituku and Linda Kiome Gakii.
In a gazette notice dated January 27, 2025 the president revoked the appointment of members of the panel who were earlier appointed in 2023.
This comes amid pressure for Ruto to urgently establish the IEBC selection panel, with claims that he was interfering with independent institutions and stalling reforms.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said over the weekend he would issue a clear statement about what is going on.
“In the meantime, within the IEBC Secretariat itself, there are terrible things going on, like procurement. They are testing the grounds,” he said.
Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni argued that setting up an IEBC on time would see Kalonzo take the presidency come 2027.
DAP-Kenya Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa slammed the government for the delay in reconstituting the IEBC, almost four years since the current administration assumed power.
The High Court on Friday paved way for President Ruto to appoint the panel after a petition challenging the constitution was thrown out.
Kiambu High Court dismissed a petition challenging the constitution of the panel on grounds that the petitioner, Bonface Njogu, had failed to prove that persons living with disabilities had been excluded.
Lady Justice Dola Chepkwony also dismissed a petition challenging Azimio’s nomination process, saying the claim that the coalition failed to conduct a competitive and open recruitment exercise could not be substantiated.
Opposition had claimed that the delay was a deliberate tactic by the State to stifle democracy in the country.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, on its part, early this month said the delay had disrupted the country’s state ofaffairs.
Following a meeting by the party’s Central Committee, chaired by Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, ODM explained how the delay affected the by-elections in Ugunja, Magarini and the clearance of a nominated Member of Parliament.
The law requires the commission to consist of members and a secretariat headed by the secretary.
Currently, there are 11 electoral areas in need of by-elections for the National Assembly; with seven pending by-elections arising from the deaths of areas Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) while others resulted from President William Ruto elevating former Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and former Nominated MP John Mbadi to his Cabinet.
The Constitution dictates that whenever a vacancy occurs in an electoral area, a by-election ought to be held within 90 days. This, however, cannot take place pending the lack of an electoral body to facilitate the exercise.
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