President William Ruto has appointed members of the selection panel tasked with recruiting nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The nominees are; Prof. Adams Oloo, Dr. Nelson Makanda, Fatuma Saman, Amb. Koki Muli, Evans Misati, Nicodemus Bore Kipchirchir, Andrew Tanui Kipkoech, Carolene Kituku and Linda Kiome Gakii.

In a gazette notice dated January 27, 2025 the president revoked the appointment of members of the panel who were earlier appointed in 2023.

This comes amid pressure for Ruto to urgently establish the IEBC selection panel, with claims that he was interfering with independent institutions and stalling reforms.

"On Monday, we hope to come up with a very clear statement about what is going on. In the meantime, within the IEBC Secretariat itself, there are terrible things going on, like procurement. They are testing the grounds,” Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said over the weekend.

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni argued that setting up an IEBC on time would see Kalonzo take the presidency come 2027. 

DAP-Kenya Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa on his part slammed the government for the delay in reconstituting the IEBC, almost four years since the current administration assumed power.

The High Court on Friday paved way for President Ruto to appoint the panel after a petition challenging the constitution was thrown out.

Kiambu High Court dismissed a petition challenging the constitution of the panel on grounds that the petitioner, Bonface Njogu, had failed to prove that persons living with disabilities had been excluded.

Lady Justice Dola Chepkwony also dismissed a petition challenging Azimio’s nomination process, saying the claim that the coalition failed to conduct a competitive and open recruitment exercise could not be substantiated.