Over 1,300 Kenyans Apply for IEBC Positions as Selection Panel Begins Shortlisting

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel provided an update on March 5, 2025, regarding the applicants for the positions of chairperson and members.

The panel has revealed that 37 individuals had expressed interest in the role of chairperson, with 31 men and 6 women among the applicants. An analysis of the distribution by county shows that Homa Bay had the highest number of applicants, with five, followed by Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, and Kisii, each with three applicants. In total, 17 counties had representatives, although seven applicants did not indicate their county of origin.

The selection panel received a total of 1,356 applications for the positions of chairperson and members of the IEBC. Out of 1,333 applicants for the position of member, 237 were female, 1,078 were male, and 18 applicants did not attach their identification number. Candidates from 33 counties were shortlisted, with Homa Bay County leading with 63 applicants, followed closely by Kisii with 62.

Nairobi County had eight applicants, Nakuru 29, Kakamega 54, Kiambu 20, Mombasa 10, Siaya two, and Nandi 25, among others. Makanda notes that several applicants had submitted duplicate applications both via email and in hard copy. He assures the public that the panel would complete the recruitment process within the 90-day deadline set by the IEBC Act.

The selection process began after President William Ruto, via Gazette Notice No. 715, appointed the selection panel on January 27 to oversee the recruitment process. The panel has narrowed down the applications for both the chairperson and member positions to a total of 1,356, with 37 for the position of chairperson and 1,319 for the position of member.

The significance of this recruitment process lies in its potential to shape the future of the IEBC and, by extension, the electoral landscape in Kenya. The diverse pool of applicants and the rigorous selection process aim to ensure that the most qualified and capable individuals are chosen to lead the commission.