President William Ruto has appointed Erastus Edeung Ethekon as the new Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), according to a Special Issue of the Kenya Gazette dated 10th June 2025.
The appointment, made under Article 250 (2) of the Constitution and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, grants Ethekon a six-year term at the helm of the electoral body. This move comes amid ongoing calls for electoral reforms and the reconstitution of the commission ahead of future polls.
Ethekon’s appointment marks a significant development in the country’s electoral landscape, following a period of uncertainty and leadership gaps at the IEBC. His selection by the President places him at the centre of preparing and overseeing key electoral processes in the coming years, including boundary reviews and the next General Election.
Alongside the appointment of the new chairperson, the President has also named six individuals to serve as IEBC commissioners for a similar term of six years. The new appointees are:
- Ann Njeri Nderitu
- Moses Mutalalah Mukwana
- Mary Karen Sorobit
- Hassan Noor Hassan
- Francis Odhiambo Aduol
- Fahima Araphat Abdallah
These appointments are expected to bring a fresh mandate to the electoral agency and are seen as part of a broader effort by the government to restore public confidence in the country’s electoral processes.
All the appointments were formalised through Gazette Notices No. 7724 and No. 7725, published in the Kenya Gazette Volume CXXVII—No. 122, on 10th June 2025. President Ruto signed off the appointments in his capacity as President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces.
The newly constituted IEBC is now expected to begin work immediately, with a heavy agenda that includes voter registration, boundary delimitation, and preparation for future electoral events. Political observers will be watching closely to see how the new leadership addresses historical concerns about transparency, efficiency, and credibility.
The IEBC has been without a substantive chairperson since the departure of the previous leadership, and these appointments signal a turning point for the commission and the country’s democratic processes.
