Kenya’s electoral commission has named a familiar face to steady the ship, appointing Moses Ledama Sunkuli as its acting chief executive at a moment when trust in the system is again under scrutiny.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said on Thursday that Mr Sunkuli will serve as Acting Chief Executive Officer and Commission Secretary with immediate effect. He will hold the role for six months, or until a substantive CEO is recruited and appointed.
Mr Sunkuli is no outsider. He currently serves as the commission’s Director of Electoral Operations, a role that places him at the centre of election planning and delivery. IEBC said his appointment was meant to ensure continuity as the commission prepares for the next phase of its work.
The vacancy arose after Marjan Hussein Marjan stepped down following a mutual agreement with the commission to end his tenure. His departure closes a chapter marked by both institutional strain and political pressure.
IEBC chair Erastus Ethekon praised Mr Marjan’s service, noting that he led the secretariat during a difficult stretch when the commission operated without fully constituted commissioners until mid-2025.
“We thank Mr Marjan for his dedication and professional service to the IEBC and wish him well in his future endeavours,” Mr Ethekon said.
Yet Mr Marjan’s exit did not come quietly. Opposition leaders had intensified calls for his removal, arguing that his continued stay threatened confidence in future polls. Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka was among those who warned that the next general election could be compromised if changes were not made at the top of the commission’s secretariat.
IEBC has not directly linked the appointment of Mr Sunkuli to those political demands. Instead, it has framed the decision as an internal, administrative move aimed at stability.
In its statement, the commission said Mr Sunkuli brings “extensive experience and institutional knowledge” to the role, qualities likely to be tested as Kenya edges closer to another high-stakes election cycle.
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