With 150 days to the August 9 polls, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has made three major appointments in preparation for the elections.
In a statement dated Friday, March 11, the commission filled the positions of Director of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Legal Affairs, and the Deputy Secretary in charge of Operations after conducting successful interviews.
Among the newly appointed officials is Micheal Ouma who was named as the new ICT Director, a position that was previously held by the late Chris Msando, who was murdered prior to the 2017 General Election.
Ouma is not new to the commission as he served at the electoral agency in different capacities previously. The IT guru held the position in acting capacity in 2014 and later handed over the mantle to others such as Msando, who was appointed prior to the 2017 polls.
The newly appointed ICT Director holds a Masters Degree and a Bachelors Degree in Electrical and Communications Engineering from Moi University.
"He is a member of Computer Society of Kenya, Kenya Institute of Management and Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). He has 10 years experience in elections technology projects management," IEBC stated.
On the other hand, Ruth Kulundu was appointed as the Deputy Commission Secretary in charge of Operations.
Kulundu has also worked with the Commission previously and was the Siaya County Elections Manager before her appointment. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi,
"During 2017 General Election, I suspended election campaigns in Siaya County for two weeks and this decision helped us to save many lives and manage expectations on the ground, the first and only suspension to have been made by a Returning Officer in the history of elections in the Country since 1963," she stated in a past interview.
Also appointed was Chrispine Otieno Owiye to the position of Director of Legal Services. Owiye is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and has been in the legal practice for over 18 years.
Apart from working as a Magistrate, he has worked as an investigator and legal officer for the Nation Police Service Commission (NPSC).
In the Commission's statement, it was revealed that the lawyer has been in charge of IEBC's investigations and prosecutions.
Owiye also doubles up as the Secretary to the IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee that summoned Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege over voter rigging claims.
