Nancy Gathungu elected chair of Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices caucus
By Nancy Marende, September 2, 2025Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has been elected the new chairperson of the caucus of chairpersons of Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices (CCIOs).
In a statement on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the National Land Commission (NLC) announced that she replaces its chairperson, Gershom Otachi.
“The Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has been elected the chair of the caucus of chairpersons of the Constitutional Commissions and Independent Office holders in an election held today, taking over from the National Land Commission Chairperson Gershom Otachi.”
Furthermore, Sammy Chepkwony, Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), was elected as vice chair.
Additionally, NLC revealed that the caucus members held a meeting to further address the tenure of the caucus chair.
“The members also revisited the tenure of the CCIO Chairperson, noting that while the existing charter provides for a one-year term, it was noted that past chairpersons have often served for two years in practice,” read the statement in part.
The caucus members reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to work together in discharging their individual mandates, noting that effective inter-agency collaboration is key to improving governance and accountability.
CCIOs mandate review
This comes a few months after the National Assembly Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) embarked on a comprehensive review of the mandates, constraints, and operational hurdles facing Kenya’s Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices (CCIOs).
The committee chaired by Runyenjes MP Karemba Muchangi on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, held a capacity-building session aimed at bolstering good governance and reinforcing accountability structures across the country.
The session provided a critical platform for committee members to examine the legal and constitutional parameters within which CCIOs operate. During the engagement, the Committee observed the need for the institutions to adhere to established mechanisms of operation.
“While these bodies are independent and free from external control, the Committee emphasised that they must still function within the confines of the Constitution and the laws that establish them,” noted Karemba.
Among the institutions that featured prominently in the discussions were the National Land Commission (NLC) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).