Why President Kenyatta Has Not Replaced Dr Roselyn Akombe Months After Her Resignation

Four months after Dr Roselyn Akombe resigned from Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), President Uhuru is yet to declare her position vacant as required by law.

Once the position of the electoral commission chairperson or commissioner becomes vacant, the president is by law required to declare it vacant within seven days.

Dr Akombe exited the commission on October 18th, 2017, a week to October 26th repeat presidential election, citing security reasons among others.

“The President shall publish a notice of a vacancy in the Gazette within seven days of the occurrence of such vacancy. Whenever a vacancy arises, recruitment of a new chairperson or member shall start immediately after the declaration of the vacancy by the President,” the IEBC Act states.

IEBC Vice chair Connie Maina told the Standard that the agency has not received any communication from the President, despite writing to head of Public Service over replacement of Akombe.

“The commission also wrote to Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua in December last year reminding him of the process but he is yet to respond.”

State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu has said the President was not in hurry to fill the position. “The matter is not among areas of priority for the President. So I won’t be able to tell you when the process will start,” Esipisu told the Standard.

The process is also said to be hurdled by a law requiring Parliament to review the provision of a panel to oversee the appointing of a commissioner.

National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale said MPs will review some of the laws in the hiring of commissioners because they are obsolete.