Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairperson nominee Erastus Ethekon faced tough questions about the nature of his work in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he currently resides.
While appearing before the Justice Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), Ethekon was forced to explain why he was interested in the Chair position at IEBC despite living and working in South Africa.
Ethekon explained that he was currently working for the African Union Development Agency as an advisor to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on the nexus between governance, peace, security and development.
During the vetting on Saturday, May 31, Ethekon was hard-pressed to clarify his occupation at the African Union and his prior roles in the United Nations, with JLAC lawmakers keen on establishing the link between the two.
“Last year, I got a place with the African Union Development Agency under the NEPAD Framework, where I am currently working as the senior advisor to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on the nexus between governance, peace, security, and development,” he stated.
Led by West Mugirango Member of Parliament Stephen Mogaka, the lawmakers pressed Ethekon to reveal whether he would flee the country if IEBC bungled elections under his stewardship.
“This (Kenya) is my country and I love it very much, and that is why I came back and that is why I want to continue serving it,” he responded.
"If called upon to serve my country, this is my priority and serving my country will be my pride,” Ethekon further asserted.
At the same time, Ethekon clarified that he was not related in any way to former Turkana County Governor Josphat Nanok.
The nominee, who previously served as the Turkana County Attorney, stated that his relationship with Nanok was purely professional, stemming from their four years of working together in the county government.
He was responding to a question from JLAC Chairperson George Murugara, who had asked whether he had any familial ties to the former governor.
“For the record, Honourable Chairman, not even close, not at the clan level, let alone family. We come from different villages and have no relationship whatsoever, whether by marriage or extended family,” Edung clarified.
This came after critics had moved Ethekon’s nomination as a strategic move by Nanok and President Ruto’s administration to install a trusted ally at the helm of Kenya’s electoral body.
