Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and other opposition leaders have claimed that several Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panelists and nominees have close ties with President William Ruto, and some serve in various positions in government.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 13, the opposition members claimed that the nominated IEBC chairman, Erastus Edung, has close ties with the State House through Comptroller Josphat Nanok.
"Erastus Edung, the nominee for Chairperson, is a known Ruto loyalist with close ties to State House via Comptroller Josphat Nanok. His track record in Turkana County as County Attorney is riddled with failure," the statement read.
On the other hand, the opposition further claimed that Hassan Noor is a relative of Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed, and his entry was as a result of Junet's influence to extend the panel's selection period.
Further, the members claimed that Joy Midivo, who was one of the shortlisted candidates, is a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party official, while Charles Nyachae is a long-time Ruto ally. Additionally, according to the opposition, Adams Aloo, who served as a member of the selection panel, is also the President's strategic communications advisor.
According to the members, the new IEBC committee selection process was eclipsed by a breach of impartiality and is an attempt by President Ruto and the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to rig the upcoming 2027 general polls.
"From the outset, the recruitment process was flawed. The selection panel was a political extension of the State House, stuffed with Ruto's loyalists and backroom advisors," it stated.
"The constitutional principles of consultation, public participation, and political neutrality were completely discarded. The result? A compromised commission lacking integrity, legitimacy, and public trust," it added.
According to the opposition, they will form a parallel commission, 'People's IEBC', which will act as a watchdog to the upcoming commission to ensure that it upholds the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and constitutionalism.
The opposition has further said that the government should publish the selection panel's exit report and Hansard records, which will enable the public to scrutinize the criteria that the selection panel used to recommend the IEBC nominees.
"We are taking immediate steps to establish a People's IEBC—a citizen-led watchdog that will mirror the official commission and hold it to the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and constitutionalism as envisioned in Article 10 on national values and the principles of good governance," the statement read.
"The Constitution is clear. Article 88(2) demands that the IEBC be independent, impartial, and free from political influence. What Ruto has created is the very opposite extension of his campaign machinery masquerading as an electoral body," it added.
In a statement on Thursday, 8 May 2025, the President nominated Edung from Turkana County as the chairperson of the IEBC six other individuals to serve as members of the commission, following the recommendations of a Selection Panel on the recruitment of nominees for the positions, which was chaired by Nelson Makanda
The other members are: Ann Njeri Nderitu (Registrar of Political Parties), Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
The president, who submitted the names of the individuals to the national assembly for vetting, stressed the need for the national assembly to prioritise the consideration of the nominees.
