Lawyer Katwa Kigen, who has represented President William Ruto in several high-profile cases, has withdrawn from the ongoing interviews for commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Kigen, who was expected to appear before the IEBC selection panel on Thursday, said he decided to pull out to avoid what he termed as unnecessary attention that could interfere with the commission’s core mandate.
“I want to avoid ‘unnecessary diversion’ from the commission’s critical role,” said Kigen, who has been one of President Ruto’s most trusted legal advisors for more than two decades.
His withdrawal comes amid concerns raised from various quarters about the independence and fairness of the electoral body if a close associate of the head of state were to join it.
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi was among those who raised questions about Kigen’s candidature.
“We have a problem of accountability and integrity in Kenya. Why would the President’s known advocate for over 20 years apply to serve in an IEBC to oversee an election where the President will be a candidate?” he asked.
Kigen was a key figure in President Ruto’s legal team during the 2022 presidential petition at the Supreme Court.
He helped defend Ruto’s win against challenges from the opposition.
Kigen also represented Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where the president was eventually acquitted.
He also played a leading role in these cases, which boosted his standing in legal and political circles. The senior counsel has been in legal practice for over two decades.
