President William Ruto has been granted the green light to appoint a new chairperson and six commissioners to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), following a recent High Court decision.
Justice Mugure Thande dismissed a petition challenging the legality of the IEBC selection panel, ruling that the petitioners failed to present sufficient evidence to show any constitutional violations.
The ruling clears the path for the president to fill the IEBC leadership vacuum, which has existed since the resignation of former chair Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu in January 2023. The commission has been operating without a full quorum, stalling electoral processes like boundary reviews and by-elections.
The petitioners had argued that the selection panel was improperly constituted and did not reflect the required legal balance. However, Justice Thande affirmed that the panel’s formation followed the law and that all appointing authorities had fulfilled their obligations as per the IEBC Act.
The president is now expected to appoint new officials in line with the recommendations submitted by the selection panel, effectively restoring the commission’s functionality.
