NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Assembly is set to begin the critical vetting process for the nominated chairperson and commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Thursday, November 27, 2025. This stage marks the culmination of a protracted and politically sensitive recruitment exercise aimed at filling a leadership vacuum that has existed for nearly three years, significantly impacting the country's electoral preparedness.

The commission has been without leadership since the Wafula Chebukati-led team departed after the contentious 2022 General Election. The terms for Chairperson Chebukati and Commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye ended in January 2023. [2, 17] The remaining four commissioners—Vice-Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya, and Irene Masit—who had publicly disputed the final presidential results, subsequently resigned or were removed from office following recommendations from a tribunal. [2, 26] This unprecedented vacancy has left the IEBC secretariat unable to conduct crucial constitutional mandates, including long-overdue by-elections and a mandatory review of constituency boundaries that was legally due by February 2024. [20, 23]

A Path Defined by Bipartisan Talks

The journey to reconstitute the commission was reshaped by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), a bipartisan body co-chaired by Kimani Ichung'wah of the Kenya Kwanza coalition and Kalonzo Musyoka of the Azimio la Umoja coalition. [3] In its final report, which Parliament adopted in February 2024, NADCO recommended expanding the IEBC selection panel from seven to nine members to bolster public confidence and ensure broader representation. [3, 9, 21]

This recommendation was formalized when President William Ruto assented to the IEBC (Amendment) Act, 2024, in July 2024. [19, 22] The new law disbanded a previously appointed panel and paved the way for a fresh, more inclusive selection process. Following this, a new nine-member selection panel, chaired by Dr. Nelson Makanda, was sworn into office by Chief Justice Martha Koome on January 27, 2025. [7, 10] The panel comprised nominees from the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Political Parties Liaison Committee, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), and the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya. [4, 20]

The Rigorous Selection Process

The Makanda-led panel embarked on its 90-day mandate by inviting applications from the public. [4, 20] After shortlisting candidates, the panel conducted televised public interviews for the chairperson and commissioner positions between March and April 2025. [6, 12] In accordance with the IEBC Act, the panel was required to submit the names of two qualified candidates for the chairperson role and nine for the commissioner positions to the President. [4, 6, 27] From this list, the President nominated one individual for chairperson and six for commissioner roles, forwarding their names to the National Assembly for the vetting that commences today. [11, 24]

High Stakes for 2027 and Beyond

The incoming commission faces the monumental task of restoring public trust in an institution often marred by political controversy. Its immediate priorities will include overseeing the delayed boundary delimitation, conducting pending by-elections for several constituencies and wards, and beginning preparations for the 2027 General Election. [17, 20] The performance and perceived independence of this new team will be critical to ensuring a peaceful and credible election, a cornerstone of Kenya's national stability.

Following the vetting by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, a report will be presented to the full House for debate and a vote. If the nominees are approved, their names will be forwarded back to the President for formal appointment via a gazette notice. [4, 11] They will then take their oath of office to serve a single, non-renewable six-year term. [13, 16] The nation now watches Parliament to see who will be entrusted with stewarding Kenya's next electoral cycle.