The National Assembly has officially received a message from President William Ruto nominating Dr. Erastus Edung Ethekon as the next Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), alongside six nominees to serve as commissioners. 

While addressing the House, Speaker of the National Assembly,  Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, informed Members that he had received the Presidential message during the recess period and had acted in accordance with the Standing Orders and relevant statutes.

“In the Message, His Excellency the President conveyed that, in accordance with the procedure set out in section 5 and the First Schedule of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act and sections 3 and 5 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, he had nominated Dr. Erastus Edung Ethekon from Turkana County as the Chairperson of the IEBC,” said the Speaker.

Persons nominated as commissioners include Ms. Ann Njeru Nderitu (Nyandarua), Mr. Moses Alutalala Mukwhana (Kakamega), Ms. Mary Karen Sorobit (Uasin Gishu), Mr. Hassan Noor Hassan (Mandera), Mr. Francis Odhiambo Aduol (Kisumu), and Mr. Fahima Araphat Abdallah (Lamu).

The Speaker recalled that on May 9, he had issued Notification No. 007 of 2025 and forwarded the names to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for vetting. However, he noted that the Committee had not begun the hearings due to a court order.

“I am aware that the Committee is yet to commence the approval hearings following the Order issued by the High Court on Monday, 19th May 2025, that has, temporarily, halted the process,” he said. “In this regard, we shall wait for the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs to notify the House as soon as it concludes the approval hearings.”

Rarieda MP,  Hon. Otiende Amollo, while rising on a point of clarification, urged the Speaker to offer further direction on the legal implications of the court’s intervention, particularly in relation to the strict timelines stipulated in the IEBC Act.

“The wording of Section 8 of the Act you’ve just referred to appears mandatory within 14 days,” said Hon. Amollo. “You may have to give further guidance to us and the House… one, as to whether, in view of the wording of that decision, the entire process is suspended until determined; or two, whether that time stops running from the time the order was issued so that the 14 days are extended; or three, depending on the decision that is made on Thursday the 29th, whether the process can still be undertaken within the time limit.”

In response, Speaker Wetang’ula assured the House that further direction would be issued on the coming days My mind is very clear. I will give comprehensive directions," said the Speaker.