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IEBC Selection Panel takes oath of office

Seven appointed members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel took oath of office at the Supreme Court of Kenya on Monday at a ceremony presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

The selection panel members are Kiome Lindah Gakii, Prof. Oloo Adams, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Amb. Koki Muli Grignon, Tanui Andrew Kipkoech, Dr. and Nelson Makanda.

The team is delegated with the mandate of recruitment of nominees for appointment as Chairperson and members of the IEBC.

While congratulating the members on their appointment, CJ Koome reminded them that the responsibility they were assuming was not just a legal function but a call to serve the people of Kenya and to safeguard the integrity of the country’s democracy.

“The oath demands that you act with unwavering integrity, resisting any influence that seeks to compromise the credibility of this process. Your guiding principle must be merit and merit alone,” she stressed.

Koome added, “The strength of our democracy, the credibility of elections, defines the stability of a nation, and history has shown us that when elections are free, fair, and transparent, our country flourishes.”

She told the selection panel that the future of Kenya’s democracy depended on the integrity of the men and women they would select to lead the IEBC, noting that the Commissioners they appoint must be individuals of untainted credibility who are committed to independence, impartiality, and the principles enshrined in the Constitution.

The CJ said IEBC is not just another government agency but the custodian of the electoral integrity, whose composition must reflect the highest standards of professionalism and credibility.

She added that when elections are mismanaged, the consequences are severe, as it threatens national unity and public trust.

Koome said the individuals selected must inspire confidence in the electoral system and uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, saying that Kenyans are watching, and the trust they placed in the institution would be determined by the integrity of the choices they make.

The CJ noted that in the past two years, Kenya has endured an unacceptable situation of having an Electoral Commission without commissioners, making the Commission unable to fully discharge its constitutional mandate since January 2023.

She said the situation has made IEBC unable to fully discharge its constitutional mandate, thereby creating gaps in the electoral process, affecting vital functions such as boundary delimitation and voter registration, and stalling by-elections.

The CJ added that the absence of a duly constituted Commission has denied some constituencies and wards their fundamental right to representation in the National Assembly and County Assemblies.

Koome said that according to the Constitution, governance must be continuous, institutions must function effectively, and the rights of Kenyans must not be held hostage by uncertainty or unnecessary delays.

The CJ affirmed the Judiciary’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting constitutional processes from manipulation, obstruction, or undue influence.

She further said that while every Kenyan has the right to seek legal redress on matters of constitutional significance, the right must not be weaponised to stall governance or advance narrow political interests at the expense of the public good.

“Recognising the urgency of this matter, I personally took responsibility to ensure that all cases affecting or delaying the constitution of the IEBC were prioritised for resolution,” she said, adding that justice must never be an obstacle to progress but the very foundation upon which a just and democratic society is built.

The CJ also called upon all institutions and stakeholders involved in the electoral process, among them Parliament, political actors, civil society, and the public, to ensure that the recruitment of new IEBC Commissioners is conducted with speed, integrity, and transparency since the citizenry expects and deserves nothing less.

She noted that strong institutions are the bedrock of Kenya’s democracy and that IEBC, like all constitutional commissions, must be allowed to function independently, free from political or external interference.

Koome said as a nation, Kenyans must remain committed to ensuring that institutions serve the people and not personal interests, and reminded the selection panel that as they embark on the work, they should not only focus on filling positions but also on securing the legitimacy of the country’s elections, the stability of governance, and the future of democracy.

“The integrity, independence, and credibility of the IEBC start with you. Your duty is clear: to identify leaders of unshakeable integrity, impartiality, and competence, men and women, who will inspire trust in our electoral process and ensure that every Kenyan can participate in free, fair, and transparent elections.

She told them to desist from any pressure, influence, or partisan interests that seek to derail the process, emphasising that their guiding principle must be the public interest.

In his remarks, the Principal Administrative Secretary (PAS), Mr. Arthur Osiya, who congratulated the selection panel members, reminded them to undertake the mandate with efficiency because of the close attachment that Kenyans give to general elections.

Osiya stated that “Kenya is a fairly exposed country now. You can see the level of scrutiny, especially on issues of good governance, so your focus as a selection panel should be of the highest possible standards.”

He noted that there are a lot of interests in the process and urged them to strive and come out with satisfactory results, which could only be achieved by putting the country first.

He also thanked CJ Koome for ensuring efficient collaboration between the three arms of government, namely the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature in fulfillment of government’s agenda.

By Bernadette Khaduli and Clinton Ng’iela

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