President William Ruto has chosen Erastus Edung Ethekon to be the new Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
This decision is important because it allows the electoral body to be restructured before the 2027 General Election.
The announcement was made on Thursday, and Ethekon’s name has been sent to the National Assembly for approval.
Ethekon, who is 48 years old, is a lawyer focused on human rights and governance from Turkana County. He was one of the leading candidates among 11 people interviewed by the IEBC Selection Panel, which is led by Dr. Nelson Makanda.
His nomination follows a requirement where the panel submitted two names to the President on May 6, 2025.
Ethekon has worked extensively in legal reform and public service, previously serving as a Programme Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kenya and as the Turkana County Attorney.
During his interview on March 25, 2025, he stressed the importance of being open about voter registration and how results are shared to prevent electoral violence. He promised to improve the management of resources within the IEBC.
“I will ask for advice from the Judiciary and the Attorney General’s office on how to set electoral boundaries,” he said during the interview, responding to concerns about his age and showcasing his enthusiasm for the role.
His nomination comes at a crucial time. Right now, the IEBC is not fully functional, causing delays in elections for areas like Banissa and Magarini, as well as in setting new electoral boundaries.
President Ruto stated that it is urgent to make the IEBC work properly again, saying that “a credible and operational electoral commission is essential in strengthening democracy.”
However, this process has faced criticism. Some opposition leaders, like Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, have accused President Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga of manipulating the reconstitution of the IEBC.
They claim that there is favoritism toward candidates linked to the ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), or ODM.
Reports suggest that ODM supported Ethekon, while UDA backed other candidates, including former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi.
Immediate former TUK Vice Chancellor Francis Aduol, Former Rift Valley PC Hassan Noor, and Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu leads a star-studded cast of nominees to the IEBC Commission.
The National Assembly is expected to review Ethekon’s nomination in the coming weeks. This process will likely attract a lot of attention since the IEBC plays a critical role in Kenya’s democracy.
If approved, Ethekon will take over from Wafula Chebukati, whose term ended in January 2023, and he will face the challenging job of restoring the public’s trust in the electoral body after past issues, including problems from the 2022 elections.
