Latest news with #IndependentElectoralandBoundariesCommission
Daily News Egypt
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Kenya's Ruto Appoints New Electoral Commission Ahead of 2027 Polls
Kenyan President William Ruto has formally approved the appointment of a new chairperson and six commissioners to lead the country's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), marking a significant step in a nation with a history of contested elections. According to a legal notice issued late Thursday, the new commissioners will serve a six-year term and are scheduled to be sworn in on Friday. The appointments come amid rising public discontent, especially among Kenyan youth, over the soaring cost of living, police violence, and ongoing concerns about corruption. Ruto's administration is under increasing pressure as the country prepares for its next general elections in 2027. The IEBC had operated without leadership since 2023, following the expiry of terms for the former chairperson and two commissioners. The commission's operations were further destabilized after four commissioners were suspended by President Ruto in December 2022 for rejecting the official results of that year's presidential election. That dispute ultimately reached Kenya's Supreme Court, which upheld Ruto's victory and dismissed the commissioners' claims of irregularities in vote tallying. The appointment process for the new commission faced delays due to multiple legal challenges, which were dismissed by the Supreme Court on Thursday, clearing the way for Ruto's final approval. Under Kenya's law, IEBC officials are selected through a public interview process conducted by a special panel, then submitted to the president for formal appointment. The revamped commission is expected to play a pivotal role in rebuilding public trust and ensuring electoral transparency ahead of the next national vote.
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Kenyan president appoints new elections body officials ahead of 2027 polls
NAIROBI: Kenya's President William Ruto has approved a new chairperson and commissioners to head the elections commission, a legal notice showed, filling positions of critical influence in a country with a long history of contentious polls. The East African nation's next general election will be held in 2027, but Ruto is already under pressure from street protests led by young Kenyans dissatisfied with high living costs, corruption and police brutality. The new chairman and six commissioners appointed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will serve for the next four years, according to the notice issued late on Thursday. They were due to be sworn in on Friday. Ruto suspended four election commissioners in December 2022 after they rejected his victory in elections held earlier that year. The dispute proceeded to the Supreme Court, which upheld Ruto's win and rejected the commissioners' arguments that the vote tallying process had been opaque. The commission had been operating without a chairperson or commissioners since 2023, when the terms of the former chairman and the two remaining commissioners expired. The appointment of new election commissioners, who are chosen by an interview panel and then submitted to the president for approval, had been delayed in part due to several legal petitions, which a high court dismissed on Thursday. - Reuters
The Star
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Kenyan president approves new officials to head elections body
NAIROBI (Reuters) -Kenya's President William Ruto has approved a new chairperson and commissioners to head the elections commission, a legal notice showed, filling positions of critical influence in a country with a long history of contentious polls. The East African nation's next general election will be held in 2027, but Ruto is already under pressure from street protests led by young Kenyans dissatisfied with high living costs, corruption and police brutality. The new chairman and six commissioners appointed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will serve for the next four years, according to the notice issued late on Thursday. They were due to be sworn in on Friday. Ruto suspended four election commissioners in December 2022 after they rejected his victory in elections held earlier that year. The dispute proceeded to the Supreme Court, which upheld Ruto's win and rejected the commissioners' arguments that the vote tallying process had been opaque. The commission had been operating without a chairperson or commissioners since 2023, when the terms of the former chairman and the two remaining commissioners expired. The appointment of new election commissioners, who are chosen by an interview panel and then submitted to the president for approval, had been delayed in part due to several legal petitions, which a high court dismissed on Thursday. (Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly and Joe Bavier)
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Kenyan president approves new officials to head elections body
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Kenya's President William Ruto looks on during his swearing-in ceremony at Moi International Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya September 13, 2022. REUTERS/Baz Ratner/File Photo NAIROBI - Kenya's President William Ruto has approved a new chairperson and commissioners to head the elections commission, a legal notice showed, filling positions of critical influence in a country with a long history of contentious polls. The East African nation's next general election will be held in 2027, but Ruto is already under pressure from street protests led by young Kenyans dissatisfied with high living costs, corruption and police brutality. The new chairman and six commissioners appointed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will serve for the next four years, according to the notice issued late on Thursday. They were due to be sworn in on Friday. Ruto suspended four election commissioners in December 2022 after they rejected his victory in elections held earlier that year. The dispute proceeded to the Supreme Court, which upheld Ruto's win and rejected the commissioners' arguments that the vote tallying process had been opaque. The commission had been operating without a chairperson or commissioners since 2023, when the terms of the former chairman and the two remaining commissioners expired. The appointment of new election commissioners, who are chosen by an interview panel and then submitted to the president for approval, had been delayed in part due to several legal petitions, which a high court dismissed on Thursday. REUTERS
Zawya
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
The European Union (EU) Election Follow-up Mission calls on Kenyan authorities to expedite electoral reform to ensure transparent, inclusive and peaceful 2027 elections
The European Union deployed an Election Follow-up Mission (EU EFM) to the Republic of Kenya from 2 February to 1 March 2025, to assess progress made in the electoral reform process and the implementation status of the recommendations made by the EU Election Observation Mission 2022 (EU EOM 2022). This EU EFM is headed by Mr Ivan Štefanec, former Chief Observer of the EU EOM 2022 and former Member of the European Parliament. The EU EFM appreciates very good relations and friendly atmosphere during meetings with a large number of interlocutors in the electoral process, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), relevant state institutions, political parties, civil society, media representatives and development partners. On 20 February, the mission organised a roundtable meeting of electoral stakeholders, where participants discussed the progress made so far in implementing the EU EOM 2022 recommendations and the current status of electoral reform. In a press conference held today in Nairobi, Mr Štefanec said: ' There is some positive movement in certain areas, as discussions on electoral reforms have commenced. We noted however a lack of tangible progress in the implementation of the recommendations offered by the EU EOM in 2022. Most of our interlocutors agreed on the urgency for an independent and fully functioning Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission well ahead of the next elections. ' The EU EOM in 2022 made 21 recommendations, including seven priority ones based on observations, analysis and discussion with various stakeholders. These recommendations included, among others, providing sufficient funds to the IEBC for continuous voter education, implementing improvements in electoral technology through regular audits and stakeholder consultation, operationalising the Election Campaign Financing Act to regulate campaign expenditures effectively, detailing the legal definition of hate speech in line with international human rights obligations, removing sections 22 and 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, and establishing clear procedures for managing staff and the flow of information at tallying centres to increase the consistency and efficiency of the electoral process. Mr Ivan Štefanec noted: "The delay in appointing new IEBC commissioners has effectively postponed pending by-elections and the boundaries delimitation, halted continuous voter registration, and compromised the overall preparations for the 2027 elections. It is essential that the IEBC is reconstituted without further delays and has adequate and timely allocated funding to prepare for the 2027 elections". Mr Štefanec highlighted the importance of making it possible for all citizens to register as voters, exercise their right to vote and stand as candidates, in line with Kenya's international and regional commitments. He stressed the need to build trust in IEBC's work, strengthening its independence, ensuring transparency in the electoral process, while fostering inclusion and cooperation among electoral stakeholders. Concluding the press conference, Mr Štefanec reaffirmed that the EU and Member States will continue to advocate for electoral reforms in Kenya. A comprehensive final report of the EU Follow-up Mission will be published in the coming months. The Final Report of the EU EOM of 2022 can be found at: Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to Kenya.
