A new era for Kenya’s electoral body officially began this afternoon as Erastus Edung Ethekon was sworn in as the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), alongside six commissioners, during a ceremony held at the Supreme Court and presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
The newly inaugurated commissioners are Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah. The team now forms the full quorum required to run the IEBC, which has been without a functional leadership structure since the exit of Wafula Chebukati and his team in early 2023.
President William Ruto’s administration had earlier faced a legal hurdle after the High Court declared the initial gazettement of their appointments unlawful. However, the court directed the President to regularize the process through fresh gazette notices, which he did earlier this week—clearing the way for today’s swearing-in.
The newly constituted Commission now faces an urgent and crucial assignment: revising the national voter register ahead of the 2027 General Elections. Stakeholders, including civil society groups and opposition parties, have long called for a thorough audit of the register, citing concerns over duplicate entries, deceased voters, and outdated data from previous polls.
Speaking after the ceremony, Chief Justice Koome urged the commissioners to uphold the Constitution and maintain public confidence in Kenya’s electoral processes. “The nation looks up to you to steer credible, transparent, and inclusive elections,” she said.
The swearing-in signals a turning point for the IEBC, whose credibility has been repeatedly tested in recent years. All eyes are now on Chairperson Ethekon and his team as they move swiftly to begin groundwork for voter verification and reforms.
As anticipation builds toward the 2027 elections, the Commission’s next actions—particularly the cleanup and audit of the voter roll—will be closely watched as a measure of its commitment to electoral integrity and institutional renewal.
