The High Court, on Wednesday, April 28, suspended the appointment of Dorothy Jemator to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel, hours before she was sworn in by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu.
Jemator is the Law Society of Kenya representative appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta alongside six other members on Monday, April 26, through a gazette notice.
They include Elizabeth Muli, Gideon Solonka, James Awuori, Elizabeth Odundo, Joseph Mutie and Farudin Abdalla.
The IEBC Act states that the composition of the selection panel should comprise nominees from the Public Service Commission, representatives from the legal profession, the Christian and Muslim faith as well as academia.
The panel is expected to invite applications for the IEBC commissioner's post by Monday, May 3. They will shortlist, interview and nominate successful candidates for appointment by the president.
The panel will also elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members at their first meeting.
The Parliamentary Service Commission will supply the selection panel with the secretariat services and equipment it needs to carry out its duties.
After creating the final list of successful candidates, the committee will forward the names to the president and with the approval from Parliament, he shall appoint them as commissioners.
Uhuru, on Wednesday, April 14, had declared vacant the four posts in order to pave way for the new appointments.
Currently, the commission's top governing organ has only 3 members; Wafula Chebukati who is the chair, Abdi Yakub Guliye and Boya Molu.
Roselyn Akombe had resigned in 2017, just days to the repeat presidential poll, citing threats to her life. Further, In 2018, three commissioners resigned, citing a lack of confidence in Chebukati.
