Chief Justice Martha Koome Swears in New IEBC Chair, 6 Commissioners Hours after Court Ruling
- The brief but symbolic ceremony at the Supreme Court marked the official start of a new era for Kenya's electoral body
- Chairperson Erastus Ethekon promised to uphold the people’s sovereign power, vowing that every Kenyan vote will count in future elections
- Ethekon further pledged transparency, fairness, and credibility ahead of the 2027 General Election
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has presided over the swearing in of the newly appointed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson and six commissioners.
Source: Twitter
Who is new IEBC chairman?
This ceremony, held at the Supreme Court, followed a court ruling that dismissed a petition challenging the appointments, allowing the re-gazettement of the commission's leadership.
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The newly sworn-in IEBC chairperson Eratus Ethekon, along with commissioners Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah, took the oath of office just hours after the High Court ruling on Thursday, July 10.
The ruling had dismissed a petition challenging the legality of their selection process, which had raised questions about compliance with court orders.
With the court’s clearance, the new leadership team is now set to begin their six-year term.
What is IEBC's new chair's promise to Kenyans?
In his first public address as chairperson, Ethekon spoke with deep reverence for the responsibilities ahead, emphasising the importance of fair, free, and credible elections in Kenya's democracy.
"Today marks the beginning of our service to the people of Kenya. We must approach this sacred duty, therefore, with the urgency and integrity and absolute commitment guided by our Constitution and the laws of the Republic, but more importantly, guided by the expectations of every Kenyan," he said, underscoring the profound duty entrusted to them.
He acknowledged the challenges the commission had faced and pledged to act with integrity, ensuring that every Kenyan's voice would be heard in upcoming elections.
Ethekon also expressed gratitude to President William Ruto, parliament, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, and the selection panel for their rigorous and transparent process that led to their appointments.
Source: Twitter
In particular, he lauded Koome for facilitating a swift resolution to the legal matters surrounding the appointments, which had been marred by procedural delays and challenges.
Ethekon reassured the Kenyan public of the commission's commitment to upholding democratic values and ensuring that every election reflects the will of the people.
"I wish to state to the country that my first and foremost loyalty is to the people of Kenya, who hold the sovereign power under Article 1 of our constitution. And that power allows them therefore to exercise their sovereign responsibility, including their right to vote. And therefore, I wish to assure Kenyans that their voices will not only be heard, but they will also count during the coming elections," he declared.
Why did Ruto have to re-appoint IEBC team?
As earlier reported, the appointments had been clouded by a previous court case, which argued that Ruto had violated conservatory orders issued in May, which were intended to halt the appointment process until the matter was fully resolved.
In a move that further complicated the situation, Ruto had gazetted the appointments on June 10, even though the court orders were still in effect.
However, after a three-judge bench dismissed the petition against the IEBC appointments, declaring it without merit, the path was cleared for the formalisation of the appointments.
Justices Roselyn Aburili, Bahati Mwamuye, and Chigiti Mugwimi ruled that while the process had been lawful, the timing and procedural elements of the gazettment were flawed, necessitating a re-issuance of the gazette notices.
This ruling allowed the president to re-gazette the appointments, which was promptly followed by the swearing-in ceremony led by the chief justice.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
