In the latest episode of Kenya’s political theater — where the unexpected is routine and the improbable is just Tuesday — the nation woke up to the news that Erastus Edung Ethekon has been nominated by President William Ruto as the next Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Yes, you read that right: Erastus Edung. Not Ann Amadi, the former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary with a CV that could silence a room. Not Charles Nyachae, the constitutional lawyer and former chair of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, whose name has practically been synonymous with legal reform. But Erastus Edung from Turkana — a man whose public profile could be outdone by a ward MCA’s boda boda campaign poster.
While Kenyans were still Googling “Who is Erastus Edung Ethekon?”, State House had already checked the box and moved on. The red-sealed press release, oozing bureaucratic elegance and patriotic font choice, confirmed the decision. The Selection Panel, in its wisdom (or whimsy), recommended two candidates for the Chair position. Out of the pair, Ruto picked the one nobody saw coming — quite literally.
One wonders what sort of electrifying interview Erastus delivered. Did he quote Aristotle while juggling electoral maps? Or perhaps his superpower lies in being incredibly unthreatening to the political class — a vital qualification in the Kenyan governance matrix.
Meanwhile, the IEBC Commission itself is set to welcome six new members (down from the nine recommended). The following nominees will be joining Mr. Edung on the commission, assuming Parliament doesn’t suddenly rediscover its spine and block the appointments:
- Ann Njeri Nderitu – Nyandarua
- Moses Alutalala Mukhwana – Kakamega
- Mary Karen Sorobit – Uasin Gishu
- Hassan Noor Hassan – Mandera
- Francis Odhiambo Aduol – Kisumu
- Fahima Araphat Abdallah – Lamu
It’s a county fair of representation, and if regional balance was the only metric, this list nails it. But competence? Experience? Integrity under pressure? The nation will just have to wait and see.
Now that the President has done his part — with the flourish of a pen and a likely shrug — the file moves to Parliament. This is where, in theory, our elected representatives are supposed to vet these individuals under the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act and the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act. In practice, however, parliamentary vetting in Kenya often resembles a talent show judged by people who already know who’s going to win.
Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, urged Parliament to “prioritize the consideration of these nominations.” Translation: don’t ask too many questions.
The vetting process will involve public submissions, committee grilling, and a few tough-sounding statements for the cameras. But make no mistake — unless something truly scandalous pops up (or unless a power play brews behind the scenes), this team is headed straight for Anniversary Towers.
If confirmed, they’ll inherit a commission whose name has become shorthand for controversy. After the 2022 elections, the IEBC was more fractured than a WhatsApp family group during a political debate. The Cherera Four saga, threats of impeachment, and the abrupt exit of Wafula Chebukati left the institution wobbling on the brink of irrelevance.
Enter the new kids on the block — some fresh, some recycled — and a chairperson whose biggest strength might just be his ability to enter a room without making waves.
Kenya’s electoral future now rests in the hands of a man nobody knew last week, leading a team whose credentials range from modestly impressive to barely Googleable. Strap in. Election season just got a whole lot more interesting.
