Opposition demands release of IEBC exit report

By Newsflash Repoter

Kenya’s opposition coalition has called for the immediate release of the exit report compiled by the panel that oversaw the selection of the next chairperson and commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), raising alarms over what they claim is a lack of transparency in the process.

In a joint statement issued on May 13, 2025, eight prominent opposition leaders demanded that the full report, including all Hansard records and evaluation criteria, be made public. They argued that the secrecy surrounding the recruitment process undermines the public’s right to scrutiny and calls into question the credibility of the nominees.

“We demand the immediate and full publication of the selection panel’s exit report and all Hansard records, so the public can scrutinise the criteria used to recommend the six nominees for the commission,” the statement read.

The statement was endorsed by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party, Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper, Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K, Mukhisa Kituyi, Jubilee Party Chairperson Torome Saitoti, and Justin Muturi of the Democratic Party. Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, now leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), also supported the call.

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The IEBC selection panel submitted nine names to President William Ruto on May 6, from which he nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as IEBC chairperson. The six commissioner nominees are Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla.

While the names of the nominees were announced at State House, the full exit report—detailing how the panel arrived at its decisions—has not been made public. The process, which was run under the Parliamentary Service Commission, remains under scrutiny for lacking transparency.

The opposition leaders criticized the failure to release the report, calling it a deliberate effort to undermine fair electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. “As the People’s Opposition, we will not sit back and watch the subversion of democracy,” they declared.

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In response to the ongoing concerns, the group announced plans to form a “People’s IEBC,” a shadow electoral body that would act as a citizen-led watchdog. The parallel structure will aim to monitor the conduct of the official IEBC and promote adherence to constitutional values, transparency, and good governance.

“What we feared has now come to pass,” the statement concluded, warning that the ongoing process risks setting the stage for a compromised electoral environment in the lead-up to 2027.