Trust deficit, political godfathers dominate vetting questions for IEBC nominees

The National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, which conducted the vetting, said Kenyans are disillusioned and many do not believe that their vote counts.

Mr Erastus Ethekon, who has been nominated for the position of the IEBC chairperson, found himself in a tight corner. He faced a barrage of questions on impartiality, having worked with former Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok, who is now the State House Deputy Chief of Staff.

“We have received a petition that you might be biased towards the President because you worked with the former Governor Nanok. Can you disabuse us about that?” Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo asked.

Mr Ethekon admitted that he worked with Mr Nanok but explained that it was a professional relationship that ended in 2022. He said that will not have any effect if appointed as the chairperson of the commission.

“I know Nanok. I worked with him for four years when he was the governor and I was the county attorney. Our relationship was purely professional and it ended in 2022 after his term came to an end,” Mr Ethekon said. 

Read: Unfit for office? The case against Ruto’s IEBC nominees 

He assured the parliamentary committee that, should he get the job, he would deliver a credible election guided by the Constitution. 

“I applied for this role knowing too well the Kenyan people expect. The issues of trust, credibility and transparency are very important,” Mr Ethekon said.

Another nominee, the Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu, faced accusations of frustrating parties. There were also allegations that her nomination was pushed by a “hand in higher authority”.

“There are claims that you have been a stumbling block in the registration of new parties as you had to consult higher authority before granting permission,” Ol Jorok MP Michael Muchira said.

Dr Amolo said Parliament had received a petition challenging her nomination since she holds the office of Registrar of Political Parties, therefore, ineligible. 

However, Ms Nderitu defended herself against the accusations.

“I doubt if there was any hand in my nomination. The jobs were open, and I applied like any other Kenyan. I don’t know anybody,” she said. 

Ms Nderitu also denied hindering the registration of parties, saying that she followed the law. She also said that during her tenure, more political parties have been registered.

Even though she admitted that she is a state officer, Ms Nderitu said she was only a nominee and had not been picked yet.

Mr Moses Mukhwana, who has been nominated as a commissioner, defended himself when asked about his relationship with President Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Mr Mukhwana served as a lawyer for Mr Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) — which is now defunct — and was also appointed by the President on the task force for health. MPs said that he might be biased if approved.

“In the event that Dr Ruto will be a candidate on the ballot, will you be conflicted? West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka asked. 

“The President saw something useful and appointed me to that task force (health). I don’t think he expects me to do something against the law — that will be stretching generosity too far,” Mr Mukhwana said, adding that his previous interactions with politicians as a lawyer would not cloud his judgement. 

Read: Ruto, Raila links to new IEBC nominees

He said that he did not do any work with the task force because it was stopped by the courts. And on his links to ANC, Mr Mukhwana said that he provided legal services, but was not a member of the party.

Ms Mary Sorobit, who has also been nominated to the IEBC, served at the Jubilee Party secretariat before moving to Dr Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance.

“I have never been biased since my days at the Law Society of Kenya. I discharge my work professionally. If I find favour, the client in this case is Kenya, and Kenyans come first before anyone else,” Ms Sorobit said.

Former Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner Hassan Noor was hard-pressed to explain his association with the National Assembly Leader of Minority Junet Mohamed and the late inclusion of his name on the list of nominees.

“I’m related to Junet. I’m his brother-in-law. I existed long before Junet was born,” Mr Noor said, and denied having a hand in his name being sneaked in at the last minute.

Prof Francis Aduol, who has also been nominated, said that he would bring expertise in boundary delimitation.

Also vetted on Saturday was Ms Fahima Abdalla, who detailed her work in Lamu County. The nominee told the vetting committee that she was up to the task.

The committee will retreat to write its report which will be tabled in the House next week.

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