National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has emphasized that Parliament retains the final authority in the approval or rejection of nominees to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Speaking during a function in Nandi County, Wetangula urged both the opposition and members of the public to approach the nomination process with objectivity, insisting that the procedure is anchored in the Constitution and must be respected.
“The President is not appointing commissioners; he is simply part of a constitutional process,” Wetang’ula clarified, in reference to the recent submission of names by President William Ruto for the vacant IEBC chairperson and commissioner positions. He cautioned against politicizing the process and warned of a growing tendency to oppose initiatives purely on political grounds.
“Parliament has the ultimate authority to either approve or reject the nominees,” he reiterated. “Let us not fall into the habit of opposing everything simply because it wasn’t our idea.”
Wetang’ula confirmed that the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) of Parliament will handle the vetting of nominees. He called on Kenyans with concerns or input to formally submit memoranda to the committee rather than resorting to public criticism.
“The process is open and transparent. Anyone with a memorandum or concern should present it to JLAC,” he stated.
President Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new IEBC chairperson, along with six others for commissioner positions: Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah. The list was officially forwarded to the Speaker’s office last Friday, triggering the parliamentary approval process.
However, the nominations have drawn criticism from opposition leaders, notably Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who questioned the transparency and fairness of the process. Kalonzo claimed that Ruto bypassed a consultative process that should have included opposition leaders.
“We are extremely concerned that Ruto chose to be partisan by ignoring the principle of consultation and concurrence,” Kalonzo said, warning that the lack of inclusivity could erode public trust in the IEBC.
Despite the controversy, Wetangula has remained firm that the constitutional process must be followed to its conclusion.
