Chief Justice Martha Koome. /JUDICIARYChief Justice Martha Koome has called on the newly appointed leadership of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to uphold integrity and constitutionalism as they take over one of the country’s most critical public institutions.
Speaking after presiding over the swearing-in of the new team at the Supreme Court in Nairobi on Friday, Koome reminded the seven-member commission that they now carry the weight of Kenya’s democratic future on their shoulders.
“Today marks the beginning of a great public duty, one that demands not only competence and courage, but a firm and unwavering commitment to constitutionalism, impartiality, and the democratic aspirations of the people of Kenya,” Koome said.
“This swearing-in ceremony is not just about the fulfilment of a legal requirement; it is about the transfer of trust that Kenyans have placed in you.”
At the helm of the new team is Erastus Edung Ethekon, who now serves as the IEBC chairperson.
He is joined by six commissioners: Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
Koome did not shy away from pointing out the gravity of the moment.
She said the commission is assuming office during a time of deep national introspection, marked by increasing public frustration, particularly from the youth, towards public institutions.
“The cry from every corner of our nation is for integrity, transparency, accountability and justice,” she said.
“It’s against this backdrop that your mandate acquires even greater weight and urgency.”
The CJ appealed to the new commission to urgently resolve critical constitutional and administrative processes that have stalled since the previous team’s term ended over two years ago.
Among them are long-pending ward and constituency by-elections as well as the delimitation of electoral boundaries, both of which are key to ensuring fair representation and timely preparation for the 2027 General Election.
“This institutional vacuum has delayed several key processes that are vital to Kenya’s democratic health,” Koome observed.
“Now that the commission has been reconstituted, it is imperative that you move with speed.”
She further urged the team to uphold Article 38 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to participate in free, fair, and credible elections.
“Our country must be built on the bedrock of true democracy, and it’s your duty to ensure that this is preserved and honoured.”
The appointment of the new commissioners brings to a close a long and politically charged recruitment process.
The swearing-in came hours after the High Court threw out a case that had challenged the recruitment process.
A three-judge bench found that there was no evidence to show the process was flawed, save for finding that President Ruto had disobeyed the court by gazetting their appointment against a conservatory order.
The entry of the new team now clears the path for the IEBC to begin fulfilling its constitutional mandate after years of dormancy.
As the clock ticks towards 2027, the commission faces mounting pressure to win public confidence, especially among younger voters who have become increasingly vocal in demanding electoral justice.
With the new leadership finally in place, attention now shifts to whether the team can rise to the challenge—not just in managing credible elections, but also in restoring faith in Kenya’s democratic institutions.
