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Anne Amadi Among 11 Shortlisted for IEBC Chairperson Job as Interviews Set to Begin
Nairobi, Kenya – The selection process for the new chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is officially underway, with 11 candidates shortlisted for the prestigious position. The shortlisted individuals include former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi and ex-Constitutional Implementation Committee (CIC) chairman Charles Nyachae, among others.
The oral interviews for the chairperson’s role will be conducted at the College of Insurance, South C, Nairobi, between March 24 and 26. The proceedings will be aired publicly, ensuring transparency in the selection process. Candidates have been directed to present their national identity cards or passports, original academic testimonials, and clearance certificates from various government agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Credit Reference Bureaus.
The Shortlisted Candidates
The 11 candidates competing for the IEBC chairperson position are:
- Anne Amadi
- Charles Nyachae
- Abdulqadir Lorot Ramadhan
- Edward Katama Ngeywa (PWD)
- Erastus Edung Ethekon
- Francis Kakai Kissinger
- Jacob Ngwele Muvengei
- Joy Brenda Masinde-Mdivo
- Lilian Wanjiku Manegene
- Robert Akumu Asembo
- Saul Simiyu Wasilwa
In addition to the chairperson’s role, 105 candidates have been shortlisted for the commissioner positions. Their interviews will take place between March 27 and April 24.
Public Participation and Next Steps
To ensure accountability, members of the public have been invited to submit memoranda regarding the conduct of any of the applicants. Upon completion of the interviews, the selection panel will forward the names of successful candidates to President William Ruto, who will then submit them to the National Assembly for approval.
The urgency of filling these positions stems from the need to prepare IEBC for the 2027 General Election, as well as to conduct long-pending mini polls in various constituencies and wards that have been without representation for over two years due to the absence of a legally constituted commission.
IEBC’s Budget for the 2027 Elections
Meanwhile, the IEBC secretariat has revealed that it requires a staggering KSh 61.7 billion to conduct the 2027 General Election. The funds will be allocated to various activities, including voter registration, procurement of election materials, and upgrading electoral technology.
A significant portion of the budget—KSh 7 billion—will be used to acquire 43,000 new Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits. Another KSh 7 billion will go toward compensating poll officers overseeing the election process across the country.
IEBC Deputy Chief Executive Obadiah Keitany told a parliamentary committee that the budget has increased due to the anticipated registration of at least five million new voters before 2027. Kenya remains one of the most expensive countries in the world when it comes to elections, with costs rising every election cycle. The 2022 elections cost taxpayers KSh 40.9 billion, a figure that continues to escalate due to logistical and technological demands.
With the IEBC selection process in motion and budget discussions ongoing, the focus remains on ensuring a credible and well-prepared electoral body ahead of the 2027 polls. Nairobian will continue providing updates on this developing story.
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Anne Amadi Among 11 Shortlisted for IEBC Chairperson Job as Interviews Set to Begin