IEBC Selection: 1,356 Kenyans Scramble for IEBC Chairman, Commissioners Jobs
- In a statement sent to the press, the nine-member team revealed that it had received a total of 1,848 applications for the positions of the commission's chairman, vice chair and the commissioners
- The panel, however, noted that over 400 applications were unprocedurally done and hence were struck out of the directory
- The sorting of the applications after the deadline left 1,356 applicants being considered before the shortlisting
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) election panel has updated Kenyans on the progress of the process to reconstitute the electoral body.
Source: UGC
In a statement sent to the press, the nine-member team revealed that it had received a total of 1,848 applications for the positions of the commission's chairman, vice chair and commissioners.
How IEBC selection panel assorted applications
The panel, however, noted that over 400 applications were unprocedurally done and hence were struck out of the directory.
The sorting of the applications after the deadline left 1,356 applicants being considered before the shortlisting.
Out of the 1,356 applications, 37 were for the chairperson position and 1,319 for the commissioner posts.
Once shortlisted, the candidates will be subjected to vetting during which their suitabilities and capacities will be reviewed.
Once the panel settles on who to work as chairperson and commissioners, the names of the successful candidates will be taken to the president and later the National Assembly for approval.
All this is for the preparations for the IEBC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Besides, there are mini-polls that have been pending in constituencies and wards for over two years now, as there has been no commission to preside over the by-elections.
Meanwhile, the secretariat of the commission recently revealed that it would need at least KSh 61.7 billion from the Exchequer to organise the 2027 General Election.
How does IEBC intend to spend KSh 61 billion?
Part of the monies would also be channelled toward, among other causes, the acquisition of new election materials, upgrading of technologies and remuneration of staff overseeing the electoral processes from the grassroots to the national level.
IEBC deputy chief executive Obadiah Keitany told the committee that the bill has also ballooned due to the projected new entrants into the voters' roll.
He said the commission is looking forward to registering upward of five million new voters ahead of the 2027 polls.
Of the KSh 61.7 billion, KSh 7 billion will go to the purchase of new KIEMS kits, about 43,000 of them, and another KSh 7 billion to the compensation of poll officers.
The amount will be a rise from the expenses in the 2022 general election.
The election then cost the taxpayer KSh 40.9 billion.
Then IEBC chairman the late Wafula Chebukati observed that the cost of elections in the country uncontrollably soars in every general election.
Kenya is known to be among the countries with costly elections; the electoral process involves six elective posts, hence the six-piece citation.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
