The National Assembly will proceed with the long-awaited vetting of nominees for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) this Saturday, following a directive from Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC).
This development comes after a brief halt to the process due to a petition challenging the legality of the selection process. The High Court had earlier issued conservatory orders temporarily stopping the gazettement and swearing-in of the nominees. However, the Speaker has maintained that the court cannot block Parliament from executing its constitutional mandate.
“For avoidance of doubt, nobody has the power under any law or our Constitution to injunct Parliament from doing its work,” Wetang’ula stated during a National Assembly session on Thursday. He emphasized that while individuals may challenge the eventual outcome, the vetting process itself must proceed.
The hearings, scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2025, will begin at 9:30 am in the Mini Chamber on the First Floor of County Hall at Parliament Buildings. The public notification was issued by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, in accordance with Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and Section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.
The Committee is tasked with scrutinizing the suitability of the nominees and is expected to present its findings, either supporting or rejecting the appointments, to the House after the vetting.
President William Ruto had earlier nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the chairperson of the IEBC. The other nominees for commissioner roles are Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla.
The approval of these nominees is seen as a critical step toward restoring full functionality to the IEBC, which has been operating under limited capacity since the exit of the previous commission. The outcome of Saturday’s vetting is expected to shape the electoral landscape ahead of future national polls.
Below is the schedule:
Written By Rodney Mbua
