Uhuru Nominates Francis Wanderi, Justus Abonyo, Juliana Cherera, and Irene Cherop as IEBC Commissioners

President Kenyatta has nominated Francis Wanderi, Justus Abonyo, Juliana Cherera, and Irene Cherop to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

On Thursday, Kenyatta forwarded the four names to the National Assembly for vetting and approval.

If approved, the nominees will fill the positions that were left vacant following the resignation of four IEBC Commissioners.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi directed the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to consider the nominations and table a report in the House within 28 days as provided for in the Standing Orders.

The four nominees were among over 30 candidates interviewed for the positions by the IEBC selection panel last month. 

The four positions fell vacant following the resignation of IEBC Vice-Chairperson Consolata Nkatha and Commissioners Margaret Mwachanya, Paul Kurgat, and Roselyn Akombe.

Nkatha, Mwachanya, and Kurgat announced their resignation in a joint media briefing on April 16th, 2018, citing a lack of confidence in IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati.

Commissioner Akombe fled the country to the US from where she announced her resignation on October 18th, 2017, saying she feared for her life after receiving multiple threats. This came a week before the October 26th, 2017 repeat presidential election.

The stepping down of the four left the commission with only three members—IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati and Commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Yakub Guliye.