IEBC says nine Kenyan candidates qualified for interviews for its Commission Secretary/CEO position.
The electoral commission says only Kenyan citizens reached the nine-person shortlist, with interviews scheduled for November 12 and 13.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission says it eliminated all foreign applicants during preliminary checks for the IEBC CEO recruitment. Its final shortlist contains nine Kenyan citizens vying for the Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer position.
In an October 30 statement, the commission addressed public concern over foreign nationals appearing among 304 applicants. It said officials checked national identification documents, citizenship and academic credentials before selecting candidates for the final stage.
The clarification followed social media questions about foreign applications, as Kenyan citizenship is mandatory for the position.
IEBC CEO recruitment followed an open application process
However, IEBC said receiving applications from foreign nationals did not make the recruitment process irregular. Anyone could apply, but only candidates who met the stated qualifications could advance.
The commission invited applications through newspaper advertisements, its website and social media platforms. It also said publishing all 304 applicants’ names supported transparency and fair competition under Articles 35 and 232 of the Constitution.
Beyond citizenship, applicants needed a degree recognised in Kenya and at least five years of senior management experience. They also had to satisfy leadership and integrity requirements under Chapter Six of the Constitution and the IEBC Act.
IEBC contracted KPMG Kenya to oversee recruitment, including advertising the vacancy and receiving applications. The firm’s responsibilities also covered initial assessments, credential verification and preparation of the shortlist.
Nine candidates advance to November interviews
The commission published the final shortlist on October 28, ahead of its clarification on foreign applicants. It includes former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission CEO Halakhe Waqo and National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse CEO Anthony Omerikwa.
Also shortlisted are Harley Mutisya, Edmund Odiwuor Malitt, Andrew Gitau Kimani and Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi. Edward Katama Ngeywa, Martina Wato Yattani and Nelly Ilongo complete the nine-person list.
Interviews will take place on November 12 and 13 as IEBC seeks a substantive officeholder ahead of the 2027 General Election. Meanwhile, Deputy Commission Secretary for Operations Ruth Kulundu continues to serve in an acting capacity.
