Parliament to vet IEBC chairperson and commissioners on May 31
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs will, on Saturday, May 31, 2025, conduct vetting of the nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a public notice issued by Parliament on Friday, May 30, 2025, the vetting exercise is scheduled to take place in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings, starting at 9:30 am.
First to face the committee at 9:30 am is Erastus Edung Ethekon, nominated for the position of IEBC Chairperson, followed by Ann Njeri Nderitu at 10:30 am for the position of IEBC commissioner and Moses Alutalala Mukhwana at 11:30 am for the same position.
Other nominees to face the committee for the position of IEBC commissioner include Mary Karen Sorobit at 12:30 pm and Francis Odhiambo Aduol at 3:30 pm. Fahima Araphat Abdalla will be the last person to appear before the committee at 4:30 pm.
“It is notified to the general public that, pursuant to Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), and further to the Notification made on 12th May, 2025, the Departmental Committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs shall conduct Approval Hearings (Vetting) of the nominees on Saturday 31st May 2025 in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings from 9:30 am,” the Parliament notice reads in part.
The vetting process will assess the nominees’ academic credentials, professional experience and integrity.
Court ruling
This comes after the High Court on Thursday, May 29, 2025, allowed the parliamentary committee to proceed with the vetting process of the proposed IEBC nominees.
In his ruling, Justice Lawrence Mugambi stated that, according to the petition, the issue lies not in the vetting and approval process in the National Assembly but in the selection and nomination process.
“I will allow the vetting and approval process in Parliament to proceed, but the court has a duty to determine the constitutionality of the issues raised in the petition on the selection and nomination process,” Justice Mugambi ruled.
However, Justice Mugambi also issued conservatory orders preventing the gazettement, swearing-in, or assumption of office by the seven nominees once the vetting and approval process by Parliament is complete, or by any other person or persons as chairperson or commissioners of IEBC.
“Pending the hearing and determination of the petition, a conservatory order is hereby issued forbidding the gazettement, swearing-in, or assumption of office by Erastus Edung, Ann Nderitu, Moses Mukhwana, Mary Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Aduol, and Fahima Abdallah, or any other person or persons as the chairperson or commissioners of IEBC,” Judge Mugambi ruled.
