Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in the year 2011 through the making of the Constitution of Kenya. The Commission is responsible for conducting or supervising referendums and elections to any elective body or office established by the Constitution, and any other elections as prescribed by an Act of Parliament. It was created in a provision of the 2010 constitution and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act. Its mandate includes "the continuous registration of voters and revision of the voter's roll, the delimitation of constituencies and wards, the regulation of political parties process, the settlement of electoral disputes, the registration of candidates for elections, voter education, the facilitation of the observation, monitoring and evaluation of elections, the regulation of money spent by a candidate or party in respect of any election, the development of a code of conduct for candidates and parties, the monitoring of compliance with legislation on nomination of candidates by parties."
Membership
The Commission is made up of seven commissioners and a CEO appointed by them. The commissioners are appointed by the President of Kenya and confirmed by the Kenyan Parliament. Each member serves a six-year term. By law, no Commissioner can be a member of a political party, and at least four votes are required for any official Commission action. Once appointed, the new commissioners are sworn in by the chief justice in office at the time of their appointment.Commissioners
- *
- ** Mr. Erastus Edung Ethekon, HSC – Chairperson
- ** Ms. Fahima Araphat Abdallah, OGW – Vice Chairperson
- ** Ms. Anne Njeri Nderitu, CBS – Commissioner
- ** Dr. Alutalala Mukhwana – Commissioner
- ** Mrs. Mary Karen Sorobit – Commissioner
- ** Mr. Hassan Noor Hassan, EBS – Commissioner
- ** Prof. Francis Odhiambo Aduol – Commissioner
Immediate former
- Albert Casmus Bwire June 2008 confirmed 9 November 2011
- Kule Galma Godana June 2008 confirmed 9 November 2011
- Amb. Yusuf A. Nzibo June 2008 confirmed 9 November 2011
- Eng. Abdullahi Sharawe June 2008 confirmed 9 November 2011
- Thomas Letangule June 2008 confirmed 9 November 2011
- J. Muthoni Wangai June 2008 confirmed 9 November 2011
- Mohamed Alawi Hussun June 2008 confirmed 9 November 2011
- Prof. Abdi Yakub Guliye – sworn in on 19 January 2017
- Molu Boya – sworn in on 19 January 2017
- Ezra Chiloba 2015 Commission Secretary appointed Director-General of Communications Authority of Kenya
- Wafula Chebukati- 2017
Offices
National office
The IEBC national office is located on the 6th Floor of, University Way in Nairobi.Constituency offices
The Commission currently has offices in every constituency and county in the country.Key roles
For the Kenyan general election, 2013, IEBC has appointed individuals to the following positions:Returning Officer
These are individuals appointed by the commission for the purpose of conducting an election or a referendum at the County Level. County Returning Officers are assisted by Deputy County Returning Officers.Constituency Returning Officer
These are individuals appointed by the commission for the purpose of conducting an election or a referendum at the Constituency-Level.Constituency returning officers will be assisted by a Deputy Constituency Returning Officer.
Elections carried out
Source:The Commission has the constitutional mandate to conduct and supervise referendums and elections to any elective body or office established by the Constitution, and any other elections as prescribed by an Act of Parliament.
General Elections
The commission organised the general election on 4 March 2013. The presidential election was petitioned at the Supreme Court of Kenya.The IEBC's handling of the Kenyan general election, 2017, has drawn scrutiny. The Supreme Court of Kenya invalidated the first results due to voting irregularities. Former IEBC Commissioner Roselyn Akombe also issued a statement declaring that the second Presidential election would not be a fair election. Just before making this statement, she resigned and fled to the United States out of fear for her life.