President William Ruto has called for the fast-tracking of the recruitment process for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson and Commissioners.
He made the appeal during the burial of Malava MP Malulu Injendi on Tuesday afternoon. Ruto urged the selection panel to speed up the process so that the people of Malava can elect a new representative without unnecessary delays.
The President assured Malava residents that his administration would continue to serve them despite the loss of their MP. He emphasized that the development and service delivery in the area would not be affected.
Ruto pledged to stand with the people of Malava during this period of transition and assured them of his commitment to ensuring a smooth electoral process.
Ruto also reiterated his administration’s push for reforms within the electoral body. He reminded the public that he had already appointed a panel to oversee the reconstitution of the IEBC and emphasized the importance of having a fully functional commission.
According to him, a new IEBC team is necessary to facilitate the election of a new MP for Malava and ensure future elections are conducted efficiently. He called on the selection panel to work swiftly to complete the process.
The President’s remarks come shortly after he constituted a nine-member selection panel to handle the recruitment of new IEBC officials. In a gazette notice dated January 27, Ruto appointed Lindah Gakii, Oloo Adams, James Misati, Nicodemus Bore, Koki Muli, Andrew Kipkoech, Nelson Makanda, Caroline Kituku, and Fatuma Saman to the task force.
Since their appointment, the panel has been working on filling the vacant positions, advertising the posts, and compiling a list of applicants for shortlisting.
On February 18, Nelson Makanda, the chairperson of the selection panel, assured Kenyans that the recruitment process would be free and fair. He emphasized the panel’s commitment to transparency and pledged to keep the public updated on each stage of the exercise.
Makanda’s statement sought to reassure Kenyans that the selection process would not be influenced by external forces and would be conducted with integrity.
The late Malulu Injendi, who passed away on February 17, was serving his third term in the National Assembly. He had been undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi before succumbing to his illness.
His death left the Malava parliamentary seat vacant, prompting the need for a by-election. Malava residents now await the appointment of new IEBC officials who will oversee the election of their next representative.
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