By Dorothy Musyoka
The Selection Panel overseeing the recruitment of nominees for appointment as the Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has provided a status update on the ongoing application process.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, during the second day of a five-day stakeholder engagement and experience-sharing workshop in Naivasha, Nakuru County, the Panel’s Chairperson, Dr. Nelson Makanda, disclosed that as of Monday, February 10, 2025, the panel had received 339 applications. He reiterated that the application window remains open and will close on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
“As provided for in the IEBC Act Cap. 7C, ‘the Selection Panel shall, within seven days of its appointment, invite applications from qualified persons’. As a result, the panel proceeded to call for applications from qualified and interested persons through adverts in the print media on Saturday 1st February 2025. This advert was also published in the Special Kenya Gazette on 3rd February, 2025 as well as on the Parliamentary Service Commission website. So far, as at 10th February 2025, we have received 339 applications,” Dr. Makanda stated.
According to Dr. Makanda as the deadline nears, the panel has been engaging key stakeholders in preparation for the upcoming selection process.
Addressing concerns about previous applications submitted in 2023, the Panel’s Vice-Chairperson, Ms. Lindah Kiome, clarified that the current recruitment is a new process and that all interested applicants must submit fresh applications within the stipulated deadline.
“Any applicant who had applied previously back in 2023 should be aware that this is a new process and all the applications must fall within the stipulated deadline,” she stated.
The panel assured the public that the recruitment exercise would be conducted in strict adherence to the provisions of the Constitution, the IEBC Act Cap 7C, and other relevant laws governing the process.
During the workshop, panel members were guided on the selection and recruitment criteria by Mr. Paul Famba, CEO and Secretary of the Public Service Commission. Ms. Margaret Igane, Chief Human Resource Manager Officer at Parliamentary Joint Services, provided insights on the longlisting and shortlisting processes.
As the process moves forward, the panel remains committed to ensuring transparency, fairness, and adherence to legal guidelines in selecting the best candidates to lead the IEBC.