Erastus Edung Speaks on His Relationship with Nanok, Says it Won't Influence His Tenure in IEBC
- Erastus Ethekon says his past relations with former Turkana governor Josphat Nanok won't affect how he undertakes his roles should he be approved as the new IEBC chairman
- He clarified to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) that he is not related to Nanok by blood; he served as the Turkana county attorney under Nanok's governorship
- A perception had gone rife about the nominee being biased in favour of President William Ruto due to the Nanok factor; Nanok currently works in Ruto's office
Proposed chairman for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Erastus Ethekon, has denied having ties with Josphat Nanok, the deputy chief of staff at State House, Nairobi.
Source: Twitter
After President William Ruto nominated Ethekon earlier this month, claims emerged that he was close to Nanok, and hence, conflicts of interest would be at play should he be approved as the IEBC chairman.
The nominee is known to have served as Turkana county attorney during the governorship of Nanok.
Is Erastus Ethekon related to Josphat Nanok?
The question of their relationship came up during the vetting of Ethekon by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) on Saturday, May 31.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
Kanduyi MP John Makali and Rarieda's Otiende Amollo presented a petition against Ethekon owing to his apparent links with Nanok.
Those objecting to his chairmanship in the IEBC expressed fears of him being commandeered by the state through the state house deputy chief of staff.
"There is an objection and perception that you will be biased in favour of the current president by virtue of the fact that you have an associate with the former governor of Turkana," asked Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.
Ethekon clarified not having any close relations with Nanok, implying their relationship was based on his service to the county.
“For the record, not even close, not at the clan level, let alone family. We come from different villages and have no relationship whatsoever, whether by marriage or extended family,” he said.
He, however, appreciated that he would always relate to people in his daily life, course of duty and career, but that would not inform how he carries himself, especially when it comes to public service.
That he served under Nanok should not be an issue of concern to the public.
“No man is an Island, but what the constitution tells us is that the IEBC is an independent commission and must not be under the control or direction of any person or authority. I, as the chairman, if you confirm me and I misbehave in the process, the provisions of the constitution are clear, a petition can be filed to remove me for any gross misconduct, violation of the constitution, or incompetence. The nation should not worry about the many relationships we have had as we grow along our career paths or life,” Ethekon stated.
Source: Facebook
Meanwhile, the nominee faced scrutiny from committee as he sought to justify his commitment to leading the country's electoral body.
What revelation did Erastus Ethekon make to JLAC?
His revelation that he did not personally submit his application for the IEBC chairman position raised concerns among committee members.
Ethekon explained that he was outside the country when applications for the IEBC posts were invited.
Initially, he was reluctant to pursue the chairman role due to the controversies surrounding the position.
However, friends working at a cybercafé encouraged him to apply, citing his qualifications.
Despite his friends' insistence, Ethekon remained hesitant and opted to apply for a commissioner’s position instead.
Where was Erastus Ethekon when applying for IEBC job?
While stationed in South Africa, where he worked with the African Union Development Agency, his friends continued to push him toward the chairman role.
Eventually, they submitted the application on his behalf, using copies of his documents stored in their database.
His revelation sparked speculation that the application was not entirely his decision.
JLAC members expressed concerns about his willingness to take on the role, questioning whether he truly had the drive to lead the IEBC.
In response, Ethekon sought to clarify his position, asserting that he had indeed instructed the cybercafé attendants to submit the application on his behalf.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
