Seven IEBC nominees to face vetting panel on Saturday

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee will vet the seven nominees for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Saturday, May 31, following clearance by the High Court and a firm directive by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.

This comes after a period of legal uncertainty that saw the process briefly halted over a petition questioning the nomination procedure.

A public notice issued Friday by National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge announced that the hearings will take place in the Mini Chamber at County Hall from 9:30 am.

“It is notified to the general public that, pursuant to Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and Section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), the vetting process of the nominees will be conducted on Saturday May 31, 2025, in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings, at 9:30 am,” the notice stated.

According to the schedule, Erastus Edung Ethekon, nominated as IEBC chairperson by President William Ruto, will be vetted first at 9:30 am, followed by Anne Nderitu at 10:30 am, Moses Mukwana at 11:30 am, Mary Karen Sorobit at 12:30 pm, Hassan Noor at 2:30 pm, Francis Odhiambo at 3:30 pm, and Fahima Abdalla at 4:30 pm.

Speaker Wetang'ula, addressing the House on Thursday, emphasised that Parliament’s constitutional duties could not be stopped by any institution, including the courts.

“For avoidance of doubt, nobody has the power under any law or our Constitution to injunct Parliament from doing its work,” he declared.

He instructed the JLAC to move forward with the vetting and present a report to the House.

“I direct the JLAC Committee to proceed without hesitation and vet the nominees for chairman and members of IEBC and bring the report to this House. Any aggrieved party, whether in the Judiciary, the Executive or the general public, can then go to court and challenge.”

He also said he would initiate talks with the Judiciary to discourage future orders that disrupt parliamentary processes.

The High Court had earlier issued conservatory orders suspending the gazettement and swearing-in of the nominees, but later allowed the vetting to proceed.

The court referred the matter to Chief Justice Martha Koome to form a bench that will consider the legal questions raised.

Justice Lawrence Mugambi said the issues in the petition touch on the sovereignty of the people and should not be dismissed lightly.

The petition had initially prompted the court to halt the process, but Parliament challenged the decision.

Through Deputy Clerk Jeremiah Ndombi, it argued that the court’s intervention was untimely, would disrupt a constitutionally mandated process, and denied the public a chance to participate.

The parliamentary team further said that the interim orders were not supported by a strong enough case to justify halting the vetting.

As part of the vetting requirements, each nominee is expected to present clearance certificates from several state agencies, including the EACC, KRA, HELB, DCI, Registrar of Political Parties, and CRB.

The public had been given until May 21 to submit written views or sworn statements, along with supporting evidence, either in support of or against the nominees’ suitability.

President Ruto named the nominees on May 8, nominating Ethekon to take over from former chair Wafula Chebukati, who died in February.

The six other nominees come from across the country, including Ann Nderitu from Nyandarua, Moses Mukwana from Kakamega, Mary Sorobit from Uasin Gishu, Hassan Noor from Mandera, Francis Odhiambo from Kisumu, and Fahima Abdalla from Lamu.