The People's Coalition on Electoral Reforms has demanded that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) explain what it calls irregularities in the recruitment of its next Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, questioning about 44 names on the published list of applicants.

In a statement dated October 29, the coalition, which Capital FM describes as led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, said its review of the longlist had raised doubts over whether some of the listed applicants were Kenyan citizens and met the legal requirements for the job.

A 24-hour ultimatum

The group gave the IEBC 24 hours to publish verified documentation and proof of application for the contested names, warning that it would go to court if the commission failed to act, Eastleigh Voice reported.

"A compromised longlist fundamentally damages public trust from the onset," the coalition said. It questioned whether the recruitment records could have been altered, asking: "Where then, is the correct list of applicants?"

The coalition's suggestion that some applicants are foreigners has not been independently established. Names, or assumptions about a person's ethnic or regional background, do not on their own determine citizenship, and the IEBC had not publicly responded to the claims by Friday.

Wider worries about poll staff

The lobby warned that weaknesses at the top could spill over into the hiring of thousands of election officials ahead of the August 2027 General Election.

"If not nipped in the bud straight up, Kenyans can expect the IEBC to carry these bad manners in the recruitment of the Returning Officers and County returning officers," the statement read.

It called for public disclosure and vetting of applicants for other key electoral jobs, including more than 55,000 presiding officers, 290 constituency returning officers and 47 county election managers, citing the constitutional requirements on integrity and merit in Articles 10, 73 and 232.

Nine candidates face interviews

The concerns come a day after the commission announced it had shortlisted nine candidates from 304 valid applications. They are:

  • Anthony Omerikwa (Busia), associated with NACADA
  • Halakhe Waqo (Marsabit), former EACC chief executive
  • Harley Mutisya (Makueni)
  • Edmund Odiwuor Malitt (Homa Bay)
  • Andrew Gitau Kimani (Nairobi)
  • Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi (Wajir)
  • Edward Katama Ngeywa (Trans Nzoia)
  • Martina Wato Yattani (Marsabit)
  • Nelly Ilongo (Taita Taveta)

Interviews are scheduled for November 12 and 13. IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon has said the shortlist took into account gender, regional balance and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

The post fell vacant after former CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan left the commission by mutual agreement in February. It was advertised on July 28 and applications closed on August 11.

The CEO runs the commission's secretariat and day-to-day operations, placing the office at the centre of voter registration, logistics and the management of next year's polls.

Photos: Capital FM; Eastleigh Voice. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.