The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has clarified why foreign nationals appeared on the list of 304 applicants, who expressed interest in the position of Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 30, the commission said all foreign applicants were eliminated during the preliminary assessment after failing to meet the citizenship requirement for the position.
The clarification followed public concerns over the recruitment process, with questions emerging about how non-Kenyan nationals had been included among those who applied for the senior position.
IEBC explained that the recruitment process involved checking applicants’ national identification documents, citizenship status and academic qualifications before settling on the final list of shortlisted candidates.
According to the commission, the verification exercise ensured that only applicants who met the legal requirements proceeded to the next stage of the recruitment.
“Upon verification of national ID, citizenship and academic credentials, the final shortlist contains only Kenyan citizens. All foreign applicants were disqualified at the preliminary stage for not meeting the citizenship requirement,” the commission stated.
The commission’s explanation sought to address concerns surrounding the presence of foreign nationals in the initial list, clarifying that appearing among the 304 applicants did not mean they had qualified for further consideration.
The position of Commission Secretary/CEO is a key administrative office at IEBC, responsible for overseeing the commission’s day-to-day operations and supporting the implementation of its mandate.
The recruitment comes at a significant time for the electoral body as it prepares for future electoral activities and seeks to strengthen its administrative structures.
IEBC maintained that citizenship verification was part of the initial screening process and that candidates who failed to satisfy the requirement were removed before the final shortlist was prepared.