Nelson Makanda was elected chairperson of the selection committee for the recruitment of nominees for appointment to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) 

“Today we had our first meeting to deliberate on the said matter and as such elect the leadership. I am happy to report that the meeting has been successful and very productive and the Panel elected myself Dr Nelson Makanda as the Chairperson and Ms Charity Kisotu as the Vice Chairperson. Both Members were elected unopposed,” Makanda said in a statement to newsrooms.

Makanda stated that the seven members of the selection panel were briefed on their mandates and roles during the meeting, assuring Kenyans that the Panel will now place advertisements in the local dailies for the vacant positions of IEBC Commissioners this week as required by the law and invited kenyans to send their applications for the vacancies to the Panel as will be advertised in the coming days.

PHOTO | COURTESY Nelson Makanda

The selection panel will shortlist and invite successful applicants for interviews after receiving the applications.

“I want to assure applicants that the exercise will be transparent, free and fair to all. I want to reiterate that the Media will be key to ensuring that this process is conducted in a transparent manner and I, therefore, call for support of the 4th Estate in the exercise,” Makanda added.

Last week President William Ruto appointed Mankanda, Kisotu, Bethuel Sugut, Novince Euralia Atieno, Evans Misati James, Benson Ngugi Njeri, and Fatuma Saman to lead the search for new commissioners.

The vacancies in the commission were left when the ex-chair, Wafula chebukati and some commissioners vacated office after serving for two terms. Four other commissioners, including juliana cherera, irene masit, Francis wanderi, and Justus Nyangaya, either resigned or were fired over gross misconduct during the 2022 presidential elections.