President William Ruto has nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon from Turkana County as the new Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, through a statement released by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, who confirmed that the nomination has been formally transmitted to the National Assembly for vetting and approval.
“In accordance with our supreme law, the nominations have been transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament, in accordance with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act as well as the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Chapter 7F, Laws of Kenya),” the statement read in part.
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Six Other Commissioners Nominated
President Ruto also nominated six individuals to serve as IEBC commissioners, following the recommendations of the IEBC Selection Panel chaired by Dr. Nelson Makanda. The names of the seven nominees have been submitted to Parliament for vetting.
The six commissioner nominees are:
- Ann Njeri Nderitu – Registrar of Political Parties
- Moses Alutalala Mukhwana
- Mary Karen Sorobit
- Hassan Noor Hassan
- Francis Odhiambo Aduol
- Fahima Araphat Abdallah
The Selection Panel had recommended two candidates for the chairperson position and nine others for the six commissioner roles. The final selection by the President comes at a time when stakeholders had raised concerns over the delay in reconstituting the electoral body.
“In recognition of the indispensable role of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as one of the cornerstone institutions of our democracy and a custodian of electoral management, His Excellency the President has urged the National Assembly to prioritize the consideration of these nominations,” Koskei added.
Who is Erastus Edung Ethekon?
The chairperson nominee, Erastus Edung Ethekon, is a distinguished legal expert with a rich academic and professional background. He holds:
- A Master of Laws (LL.M) in Oil, Gas & Energy Law from the University of Derby, UK (2016)
- A Master of Science (MSc) in Project Management from the University of Liverpool (2013)
- A Master of Arts (M.A.) in Peace, Conflict & Development Studies from Universidad Jaume I, Spain (2012)
- A Postgraduate Certificate in the Implementation of International Human Rights Treaties from the University of Nottingham (2007)
- A Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law (2003)
- A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Nairobi (2001)
Ethekon is also a Chevening Scholar, awarded by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Professionally, he served as County Attorney in Turkana County from 2018 to 2024. Prior to that, he was a Consultant Partner at Northern Consulting Solution and E. Ethekon & Co. Advocates, where he practiced law from 2004 until his nomination.
Competitive Selection Process
The race for the chairperson position was competitive, with 11 candidates interviewed. Among the notable contenders were:
- Anne Amadi – Former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary
- Charles Nyachae – Former Chairperson, Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC)
- Joy Mdivo – Legal and Governance Expert
- Jacob Ngwele Muvengei
- Francis Kakai Kissinger
- Lilian Wanjiku Manegene
- Saul Simiyu Wasilwa, among others.
What Next?
The National Assembly is now expected to commence the vetting process of the nominees, in accordance with the IEBC Act, 2011, and the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act. Parliament has 21 days from the date of submission to consider and either approve or reject the nominees.
The reconstitution of the IEBC is viewed as a critical step in strengthening Kenya’s democratic processes, especially ahead of the 2027 General Elections.