Nairobi — Kenya’s High Court has blocked the formal appointment and swearing-in of President William Ruto’s picks for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), citing concerns that touch on the country’s constitutional fabric.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi, who issued the temporary order on Thursday, said the court could not ignore the weight of the petition brought before it.
“These are not trivial matters,” he said. “They raise fundamental questions on the sovereignty of the people and the integrity of the process.”
However, Parliament has been allowed to continue with the vetting of the seven nominees.
The legal challenge comes just weeks after President Ruto, on 8 May, named Erastus Edung Ethekon as the next IEBC Chairperson. Ethekon, if confirmed, would take over from Wafula Chebukati, who died in February.
Alongside Ethekon, the President nominated six individuals as IEBC commissioners:
- Ann Nderitu (Nyandarua), currently Registrar of Political Parties
- Moses Alutalala Mukhwana (Kakamega)
- Mary Karen Sorobit (Uasin Gishu)
- Hassan Noor Hassan (Mandera)
- Francis Odhiambo Aduol (Kisumu)
- Fahima Araphat Abdallah (Lamu)
But not everyone agrees with the process. A group of petitioners argue that some nominees fall short of the legal requirements and that the President acted beyond his powers.
They claim the appointments lack fairness, transparency, and public participation.
The High Court has now referred the matter to Chief Justice Martha Koome. She will appoint a special bench to hear the case.
In response to the petition, the National Assembly urged the court not to derail the vetting process.
“Stopping us now goes against public interest,” said a statement from the Assembly’s legal team. “Vetting is part of a constitutional mandate, and this is a time-bound process.”
The IEBC plays a central role in Kenya’s democracy, overseeing elections and managing electoral boundaries. Its credibility has long been a point of tension during transitions of power.
Observers say the delay in confirming new commissioners may affect preparations for future polls.
For now, all eyes will be on the Chief Justice as the court prepares to weigh in more deeply.
The petition is expected to test the balance between executive action and judicial oversight — and how far each can go in shaping the country’s electoral future.
