Ruto nominates new electoral body
President Ruto nominated former Nairobi judge Erastus Edung Ethekon as IEBC chairperson on May 8, along with six other members for the electoral commission. These nominations, now before Parliament for approval, have drawn criticism for alleged political bias.
In a significant development for Kenya's electoral framework, President William Ruto officially nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon, a respected former Nairobi judge, for the crucial position of IEBC chairperson on May 8. This nomination heads a list of appointments aimed at reconstituting the electoral commission.
Alongside Ethekon, President Ruto proposed six other members to fill the vacancies in the expanded seven-member commission. These nominees include notable figures such as former senator Mary Karen Sorobit and Mandera’s Hassan Noor, individuals with diverse backgrounds in public service and law. The nominations were based on a shortlist meticulously prepared and submitted by an official selection panel tasked with vetting potential candidates.
Following constitutional procedure, these nominations have been formally forwarded to Parliament for the mandatory approval process, which typically involves vetting by a parliamentary committee and a subsequent vote by the full house. However, the President's choices were met with immediate and vocal criticism from various quarters, with detractors decrying the nominations as politically motivated and potentially undermining the independence of the electoral body ahead of future elections.
