The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Friday, July 24 concluded interviews for candidates shortlisted for the position of the electoral body's commissioner.
On June 12, IEBC shortlisted 36 candidates for the positions of commissioners after the seats fell vacant following the resignation of Cornie Nkatha Maina, Roselyne Akombe, Paul Kurgat and Margaret Mwachanya.
Interviews of the shortlisted candidates begun on July 7 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). All candidates faced a 7 member panel led by the chairperson: Dr. Elizabeth Muli.
However, there are some candidates who were the highlight of the interviewing process. Top of the list is Abdalla Mohammed, who withdrew his candidature on the morning of Wednesday, July 7.
Abdalla, who was scheduled for 9.30 am, allegedly pulled out from the interview after the selection panel wrote to him an email, expressing doubt in the authenticity of his academic papers after making an inquiry with the Kenya Methodist University (KEMU).
"The Vice-Chancellor responded saying that the academic certificate was not issued by Kenya Methodist and is, therefore, a forgery," a member of the panel stated.
Another candidate Florence Jaoko, who appeared before the panel on July 12, shocked the panel when she was unable to respond to questions in Kiswahili. Jaoko asked to continue answering her question in English after she struggled to answer a question asked by panelist Father Joseph Ngumbi Mutie in the national language.
She also pointed out the IEBC mistakes in the 2017 general elections. The former chairperson of the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC) pointed out the failure of the elections body to update voter registration biometric records in 2017.
Caroline Ng'ang'a, the youngest candidate facing the panel, seemingly had some interesting responses. Her school of thought on policies, technical aspects, and laws were met with positive affirmations from the panel.
Dr. Salim Ndemo took the panel by surprise when his academic papers revealed that he completed his doctorate degree (PhD) in Business Administration on January 30, 2009, six months after being awarded his Master's certificate on August 15, 2008.
"I know the kind of effort and time and sweat that goes into preparing and getting a PhD. I am curious to know how you got yours in 6 months," Dr. Muli remarked.
Facing the panel on July 13, Irene Keino also found it hard to explain her suspension from the Vice-Chair position at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
On July 10, Former Gwasi Member of Parliament Felix Nyauchi was also on the spot over his position on a motion while an MP between 1997 and 2002. Referring to the constitutional Hansard, the panel's vice-chair Morris Kimuli reminded him of how he scuttled a debate on constitutional reforms in parliament, voting to adjourn the reforms.
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