President Ruto declares vacancy for IEBC Chair, 5 commissioners

President William Ruto on Tuesday, February 14 declared vacancies in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

In a gazette notice seen by TV47 Digital, President Ruto declared vacancies in the position of Chairperson and five commissioners.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7A (2) of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, 2011 as read with paragraph I (I) of the First Schedule to the Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, declare vacancies in the positions of—(a) Chairperson; and (b) Five Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” read the notice.

The positions were left vacant following the retirement of Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye. Their six-year non-renewable term came to an end in January 2023. Chebukati, Guliye and Molu came into office on January 18, 2017.

The other slots were left vacant following the resignation of Juliana Cherera (vice-chairperson), Justus Nyangáya and Francis Wanderi. The trio resigned after they were suspended by President Ruto and a tribunal formed to investigate their conduct during the August 9 2022 General Election.

The seventh slot has not been declared vacant pending the determination of a case against Commissioner Irene Masit by the Justice Aggrey Muchelule-led tribunal.

The Commission is currently under the management of the secretariat.

Selection panel

President Ruto will pick the seven-member IEBC selection panel in accordance with the IEBC (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which he signed into law just last month.

According to the new law, the Parliamentary Service Commission and the Inter-Religious Council will each nominate two names to the panel.

The Political Parties Liaison Committee, the Law Society of Kenya and the Public Service Commission will nominate one person each.