President William Ruto’s nomination of Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is facing stiff opposition even before parliamentary vetting begins.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has strongly criticized the appointment, accusing the president of bypassing consultation.
“We are extremely concerned that Mr. Ruto chose to be partisan by ignoring the principle of consultation,” Kalonzo said in a statement.
The opposition leader warned that the selection of Ethekon and six other commissioners could undermine the credibility of the IEBC, affecting both the 2027 General Election and upcoming by-elections.
Ethekon, who previously served as Turkana County Attorney, was nominated alongside six others, including Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
Kalonzo alleged that the appointments were part of a scheme to influence election outcomes, a claim the government has not addressed.
The IEBC Act of 2011 gives Parliament 21 days to vet the nominees. Kalonzo promised a detailed opposition statement on the matter soon, emphasizing their lack of confidence in the process.
Ethekon is expected to replace the late Wafula Chebukati, who died in February.
By Kenyans