Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has hailed the appointment of Dr. Erastus Ethekon as the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), emphasizing the significance of having a member of a minority community assume such a critical role.
“I am very happy the first minority has become the chairman of IEBC, a Turkana. Very qualified lawyer because I know him at a personal level,” Duale said, praising Ethekon’s credentials and personal integrity.
Duale rejected claims that the appointment was ethnically motivated, noting that opposition stemmed from bias against the new chair’s background rather than his qualifications.
“People are complaining not because they have a problem with IEBC but because they have a problem with the chairman, why is it that he is from Turkana minority?” he stated.
The appointment had faced legal challenges by activists alleging irregularities and favoritism, but a three-judge bench dismissed the petition, citing lack of evidence to prove the claims paving the way for swearing in of the chair and six commissioners of the the electoral body.
Duale further expressed optimism that Dr. Ethekon and the IEBC team will conduct credible elections in 2027, reinforcing trust in the electoral process and advancing inclusivity in national leadership.
