Showdown at IEBC: High-Stakes Interviews Kick Off Amid Public Scrutiny
Nairobi, Kenya – The much-anticipated vetting process for the next Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to begin tomorrow, March 24, 2025, at the Edge Convention Center in South C, Nairobi. With the 2027 General Election on the horizon, the selection process has drawn national attention, as Kenyans await to see who will steer the country’s electoral body.
The interviews will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, running from March 24 to March 26, will focus on candidates vying for the Chairperson position. The second phase, set for March 26 to April 24, will assess the suitability of candidates seeking to fill the vacant commissioner roles. The process comes after a prolonged leadership vacuum following the departure of the previous IEBC team, led by former Chair Wafula Chebukati.
A Battle of Heavyweights
Among those scheduled for interviews on the first day are prominent figures such as former East African Court Judge Charles Nyachae, former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi, Abdulqadir Lorot H. Ramadhan, and Edward Katama Ngeywa. On Tuesday, the panel will vet another group, including Erastus Edung Ethekon, Francis Kakai Kissinger, former Nairobi County Assembly Clerk Jacob Ngwele Muvengei, and Kenya Power Board Chair Joy Brenda Masinde-Mdivo. The final day for the chairperson interviews, March 26, will see candidates Lillian Wanjiku Manegene, Robert Akumu Asembo, and Saul Simiyu Wasilwa take the stage.
Led by Dr. Nelson Makanda, the selection panel will assess each candidate’s experience, integrity, and strategic vision for strengthening Kenya’s electoral system. However, the process is not without controversy. A petition filed by the Kenya Youth Organisation has raised concerns over Charles Nyachae’s suitability for the chairperson position, citing potential ethical concerns and a lack of alignment with Chapter Six of the Constitution, which sets high moral and ethical standards for public office.
Scrutiny and Public Expectations
All shortlisted candidates must present clearance certificates from key agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Higher Education Loans Board. Candidates with foreign degrees must also provide validation from the Commission for University Education.
The panel is under pressure to conduct a transparent process that ensures credible leadership at the helm of Kenya’s electoral body. The recent appointment of Linda Kiome, the IEBC selection panel’s vice chairperson, as Meru’s Deputy Governor has further fueled debates on impartiality and independence in the process.
