Fahima Arafat: New IEBC Commissioners Elect Commission's Vice Chairperson
- After over two years of inactivity, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is fully constituted to undertake its mandate
- The new team, led by chairman Erastus Ethekon, was sworn in at the Supreme Court on Friday, July 11
- The commissioners elected Fahima Araphat Abdallah as the voice chairperson to deputise Ethekon
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Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is now fully constituted and ready to undertake its duties.
Source: Twitter
Who will be IEBC vice chairperson?
The seven-member team was sworn in at the Supreme Court on Friday, July 11, in the presence of Chief Justice Martha Koome.
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It will be stewarded by Erastus Ethekon as its chairman.
Other commissioners are; Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
The new commissioners held their first meeting, chaired by Ethekon Friday evening, in which they settled on Fahima as the vice chairperson.
"The Commission takes this opportunity to congratulate Commissioner Fahima on her election. We assure members of the public and our stakeholders that the Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening Kenya's democracy," the commission said.
Who is Fahima Arafat?
The 32-year-old hails from Lamu County.
She is an alumna of the University of Nairobi, where she attained a Master of Arts Degree in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi, and Kenyatta University, where she obtained Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting.
Project Management Professional Course at the Project Management Institute (2024) Diploma in Investment Advice at the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (2024)
Until her appointment to the IEBC, Fahima served as a member of the Lamu County Assembly Service Board.
She previously served as the Lamu County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Infrastructure, Finance, Trade, Investments, Agriculture, Fisheries and Water in Lamu County between 2017 and 2022.
Before her stint in the Lamu County government, Fahima served as an administrator for Shella Ward between 2014 and 2017.
Source: Twitter
Elsewhere, the commission chairman assured Kenyans of a free and credible general election in 2027.
What IEBC chairman told Kenyans after swearing in
Ethekon declared his loyalty to the citizenry as he undertakes his roles at he helm of the electoral commission.
Allaying concerns of presumed bias, Ethekon said the aspirations of Kenyans told through the ballot would be preserved under his leadership of the IEBC.
The chairman appreciated that an election is the only tool to affirm democracy, calling on Kenyans to stand firm in that pursuit.
He said the IEBC would need the support of the people as the commissioners look forward to realising the commission's objective of preserving the dignity of the country and democracy through free and fair elections.
Ethekon and six other commissioners were sworn in at the Supreme Court on Friday, July 11, in the presence of Chief Justice Martha Koome to begin their six-year term in the electoral body.
The 2027 General Election will be the commission's herculean task; meanwhile, there is a host of by-elections that the team will be starting their run with.
Speaking after the swearing-in of the commissioners, CJ Koome urged them to undertake their duties with utmost integrity while taking into account the concerns and expectations of the Kenyan public.
The team was sworn in a day after the High Court in Nairobi threw out a petition that had been filed to challenge their nominations done by President William Ruto.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
