MPs approve Ethekon’s nomination as IEBC chairman

On Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Members of Parliament (MPs) approved his nomination, paving the way for him to succeed the late Wanyonyi Wafula Chebukati.

The legislatures also approved the names of 6 persons nominated to serve as IEBC commissioners.

They are Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Fahima Arafat Abdallah.

The 7 names were unanimously approved after chairman of the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) Tharaka MP George Murugara, tabled a vetting report in support of their nomination by President William Ruto.

He urged Ethekon, the former Turkana County attorney and his team to ‘start growing a spine’ of successfully conducting the 2027 elections.

“Because we have to have a fair, just, credible, verifiable election which every Kenyan is going to be satisfied with,” he added.

Leader of majority in the National Assembly Anthony Kimani Ichung’wah chided leaders who were opposed to Ethekon’s nomination, calling them enemies of the public.

“We must respect people not because of where they come from, but on the basis of what is on their heads. Any leader, whether in this House or out there, who is not in support of this motion and the establishment of a new IEBC is an enemy to this republic; is an enemy to the people of Kenya.”

IEBC has been without a chairperson and commissioner since Chebukati and the only two remaining commissioners – Boya Molu and Prof. Abdi Guliye retired in January, 2023.

Chebukati died in February this year, only two years after taking a bow from the commission. The nominees now await President Ruto’s appointment and swearing in before assuming office.

Upon assuming office, the commissioners will vote to elect Ethekon’s deputy.

Ethekon will become the third IEBC boss since promulgation of the 2013 constitution, after Chebukati and Ahmed Issak Hassan.