Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has strongly criticized President William Ruto’s nomination of Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC, warning that the move risks eroding public trust in Kenya’s electoral system.
Kalonzo accused the President of ignoring the principles of inclusivity and consultation by bypassing opposition leaders and other key stakeholders during the appointment process.
“We are extremely concerned that Mr. Ruto chose to be partisan by ignoring the principle of consultation and concurrence in his recommendation of the chairman and members of the IEBC, this action has automatically created a low-trust institution.” Kalonzo said
The Wiper Party leader alleged that the move was a calculated effort to influence the outcome of upcoming by-elections and the 2027 General Election.
“As we had stated in prior correspondence on the subject, it is now evident that the intention is to rig, not only the next General Election but also the upcoming by-elections,” he said.
President Ruto nominated Ethekon, a former Turkana County Attorney, to replace the late Wafula Chebukati, who died in February this year. Ethekon’s nomination came alongside six others named to serve as commissioners: Ann Njeri Nderitu , Moses Alutalala Mukhwana , Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol , and Fahima Araphat Abdallah .
The appointments were based on recommendations submitted by the IEBC Selection Panel earlier in the week and were formally announced on Thursday by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
The nominees now await parliamentary vetting, a process legally required to be completed within 21 days. However, the political fallout has already begun, with opposition leaders vowing to resist the appointments.
Kalonzo confirmed that the opposition coalition will soon issue a detailed statement rejecting the nominees, citing a lack of confidence in both the selection process and the individuals chosen.
“We will be releasing a comprehensive statement outlining our reasons for rejecting these names. This is not about personalities it’s about principles,” he said.
The IEBC has often been a flashpoint in Kenyan politics, and the latest appointments have once again placed the electoral body at the center of a political storm. It remains to be seen whether Parliament will approve the nominees or yield to growing public and political pressure.
