The Ruto, Raila link in new IEBC team

By Newsflash Team

At least five of the seven individuals nominated to oversee the 2027 General Election are facing scrutiny over alleged ties to President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, raising alarm among what remains of the opposition.

Some of the nominees are known former allies, including one who served as a legal adviser for the now-defunct Amani National Congress (ANC) party founded by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. One nominee is also reportedly related to a member of Mr Odinga’s close circle.

On Thursday, President Ruto put forward the name of Mr Erastus Edung Ethekon, a former legal officer in Turkana County, to lead the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

He also nominated Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu, Mr Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Ms Mary Karen Sorobit, Mr Hassan Noor Hassan, Prof Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Ms Fahima Araphat Abdallah as commissioners.

Wiper Party boss Kalonzo Musyoka accused Dr Ruto of partisanship in selecting the nominees.

“We are deeply troubled that President Ruto acted unilaterally and ignored the need for consultation and consensus in his IEBC nominations,” Mr Musyoka said, adding that the opposition would release a comprehensive statement on Monday.

“This has resulted in a commission lacking public confidence. As we noted earlier, it’s clear the aim is to manipulate the General Election and pending by-elections.”

Speaking at the burial of Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve in Mwingi yesterday, Mr Musyoka noted that Dr Ruto, being a 2027 presidential hopeful, should not handpick the officials overseeing the race.

Nonetheless, he emphasized that he is prepared to run for president regardless of any political agreement on IEBC reconstitution.

“He might as well make himself IEBC chair, but come 2027, we will still vote him out,” Mr Musyoka asserted.

Political connections under microscope

He accused Dr Ruto of disregarding the National Dialogue Committee’s advice, which called for consultations and consensus in the IEBC appointments, as agreed between Kenya Kwanza and the opposition.

“Our parties were sidelined despite it being standard democratic practice, but we will continue pushing to save this country from Ruto’s leadership,” the Wiper leader added.

Eugene Wamalwa of the Development Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) echoed the remarks, saying the President appears overly eager to secure re-election as his political influence wanes.

Read more:Ruto nominates Erastus Ethekon as new IEBC chair

Mr Ethekon, nominated to succeed Wafula Chebukati — who retired in January 2023 and passed away in February 2025 — is a known associate of Josephat Nanok, Ruto’s Deputy Chief of Staff and former Turkana Governor.

He worked as Turkana’s legal officer when Mr Nanok, elected under ODM, served as county boss.

In May 2023, the Senate’s County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee summoned Mr Nanok over his role as a shareholder in a water company.

Senators wanted him to explain his position as director at Turkana County Rural Water Services, which he held alongside Mr Ethekon, who was also a co-director and shareholder.

Nominee draw scrutiny

Dr Mukhwana has served on a presidential task force on health workforce matters since 2024.

He is a long-time ally of Mr Mudavadi and worked as his legal consultant in ANC.

Ms Sorobit, from Uasin Gishu County, is closely linked to President Ruto, dating back to when he led the United Republican Party (URP).

In 2016, she was appointed to a nine-member team tasked with recruiting IEBC commissioners ahead of the 2017 elections.

Alongside Evans Monari, retired Justice Tom Mbaluto and Ogla Chepkemoi Karani, Ms Sorobit was among four nominees submitted by the Parliamentary Service Commission representing top political parties.

The five other members representing religious organisations were Bernadette Musundi, Peter Karanja, Abdulghafur El-Busaidy, David Oginde and Rajesh Rawal.

She also served as deputy director and later director of the Jubilee Party between 2017 and 2021, when Dr Ruto was deputy party leader.

Ms Abdallah is a close associate of Lamu Governor Issa Timamy and has held several roles in the county government. Mr Timamy is a Mudavadi ally.

Last year, he was appointed co-deputy party leader of President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) after ANC’s dissolution.

Ms Abdallah serves on the Lamu County Assembly Service Board and previously managed Shella Ward during Mr Timamy’s first gubernatorial term.

Mr Hassan, an ODM member, unsuccessfully vied for Mandera governor in 2022.

The former provincial administrator is also linked to Junet Mohamed, National Assembly Minority Leader and Odinga confidant.

A 2020 probe into the National Youth Service (NYS) found Mr Hassan to be Mr Mohamed’s brother-in-law.

His nomination has stirred old controversy from his late addition to the shortlist of IEBC commissioner candidates.

He was among six names reportedly included by the IEBC selection panel just before interviews began.

Ms Nderitu once worked for the IEBC. Her return is seen by some as maintaining the status quo.

Prof Aduol, from Kisumu County, formerly served as Vice-Chancellor at the Technical University of Kenya.

Push for transparency

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has tasked the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee with vetting the nominees.

In a May 9 statement, Mr Wetang’ula instructed the committee to begin approval hearings immediately, due to the pressing need to reconstitute the IEBC.

“The committee is to begin approvals and then table its report when the House resumes on May 27, 2025, so MPs can vote within the required timeframe,” the statement read.

This follows the IEBC selection panel’s recruitment exercise, chaired by Dr Nelson Makanda, which saw 11 shortlisted for chair and 107 for commissioner.

Under IEBC law, the President must send the nominee list to Parliament within a week.

Following parliamentary approval, the President has seven more days to officially appoint the chairperson and commissioners.

The IEBC has remained non-functional for over two years, since the January 2023 exit of Chebukati, Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye.

Read more:Who is Erastus Ekethon, newly nominated IEBC chair?

Civil society groups are now urging transparency and impartiality in appointments.

On Thursday, the Elections Observation Group (ELOG) called for immediate release of the IEBC recruitment report.

“We’re concerned that only the President received the final report. It must be published now,” the group’s statement said.

ELOG emphasized that transparency and open data are essential for trust and good governance, and keeping the report private erodes confidence and raises doubts.

They warned that withholding the report could fuel speculation and worsen mistrust.

“Public confidence in electoral bodies is essential because elections are a people-centered process and key to overall credibility,” they stated.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi dismissed Kalonzo’s concerns.

“Stop obsessing over who chairs the IEBC. Even the worst electoral body can’t override the people’s will,” Mr Amisi said.

“These tired IEBC antics from Nasa, Cord and Azimio need to end. They never took you to State House. You failed us. If I was your leader, Kenya would be different today.”