The National Assembly has officially kick-started the vetting process for the newly nominated chairperson and commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), with approval hearings set to take place on Monday, May 26, 2025.
This follows President William Ruto’s submission of the nominees’ names to Parliament for approval. The nominees include Erastus Edung Ethekon as the chairperson and Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla as commissioners.
In a public notice dated May 12, 2025, National Assembly Clerk Samwel Njoroge announced that the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, chaired by George Murugara, will conduct the hearings in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings, starting at 9:00 a.m.
According to the schedule, Ethekon will be the first to appear before the panel at 9:00 a.m., followed by Nderitu at 10:30 a.m., Mukwana at 11:30 a.m., and Sorobit at 12:30 p.m. The session will resume at 2:30 p.m. with Hassan Noor, followed by Francis Odhiambo at 3:30 p.m., and conclude with Fahima Abdalla at 4:30 p.m.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula referred the nominees to the Justice Committee, in line with constitutional and statutory procedures. The process is guided by Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and Section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.
Members of the public have been invited to participate by submitting written statements contesting the suitability of any nominee. These submissions, accompanied by supporting evidence in the form of sworn affidavits, must be delivered to the Clerk of the National Assembly by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
As part of the vetting requirements, each nominee is expected to present valid clearance certificates from key state agencies including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Credit Reference Bureau, and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
The upcoming vetting marks a crucial step in reconstituting the IEBC ahead of future electoral exercises
