The newly appointed Chairperson and Commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) are set to be sworn in today at midday at the Supreme Court, marking a significant step in restoring the agency’s operational capacity ahead of critical electoral events. The swearing-in ceremony will be presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
This development comes after a three-judge bench on Thursday evening dismissed a petition that had challenged the nomination and appointment of the new IEBC team. The petition specifically targeted the selection process of Chairperson Erustus Ethekon Edung and Commissioners Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
Although the court nullified the initial Gazette Notice dated June 10, 2025, issued by President William Ruto, it allowed the process to proceed by directing that a new notice be published to regularise the appointments. This was done promptly, paving the way for the commissioners to officially take office.
The IEBC has been operating without a full commission following the exit of the previous office holders, rendering it incapable of conducting by-elections. Several constituencies and wards have been left unrepresented due to vacancies caused by deaths and other circumstances. According to law, by-elections must be held within 90 days of a seat falling vacant—something the IEBC could not fulfil without a fully constituted team.
The swearing-in of the new team comes exactly two years before the 2027 General Election. Their immediate tasks will include organizing the pending mini polls and preparing a credible electoral roadmap ahead of the next nationwide vote.
The restoration of a full commission marks a return to normalcy for Kenya’s electoral landscape. However, the incoming team faces immense pressure to restore public confidence in the commission, especially in the wake of past controversies and political tensions surrounding electoral processes.
All eyes will now be on the new IEBC leadership to see how it manages the upcoming challenges, including voter registration, boundary reviews, and the administration of free, fair, and transparent elections.
