President William Ruto has assented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) 2024, which ushers in a new electoral law.

During the signing at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the Head of State said the Act contains, among others, an expanded recruitment panel that includes the electoral agency’s chairman and commissioners.

“The Assent to the IEBC Amendment Bill marks a significant step in the actualization of one of the recommendations of NADCO and the signing of this Bill paves way for the establishment of a selection panel for the appointment of IEBC Commissioners,” he said.

Further, he said the Bill passed by Parliament based on the recommendations of the NADCO report will allow the reconstitution of the IEBC Commission to enable it to carry out its key electoral functions, including conducting elections and the boundaries review process.

“The IEBC remains a cornerstone of our democracy responsible for overseeing regular elections at various levels ensuring that our electoral cycle is managed transparently and administered in an impartial neutral, efficient, accurate and accountable manner.”

Ruto urged Parliament to expedite other recommendations in the NADCO report to process various Bills realized by the Dialogue committee.

The National Dialogue Committee, consisting of leaders drawn from both the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalition, recommended a series of legislative proposals, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Leader of Opposition Bill, 2024, and National Government Coordination (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Others were the Elections (Amendment) Bill of 2024, the Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill 2024, and Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who leads the Azimio Coalition, and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who represents the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, endorsed the NADCO deal.