Ruto Criticized for Including Junet’s Kin and Nanok Ally in IEBC List
President William Ruto is facing strong criticism from opposition leaders for allegedly nominating individuals with close ties to him and government officials to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
On Tuesday, May 13, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and other opposition leaders issued a detailed statement, claiming that both the IEBC selection panel and the final list of nominees include people who are politically connected to State House and are loyal to President Ruto.
According to them, this compromises the independence and integrity of the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The opposition leaders specifically pointed out that Erastus Edung, who has been nominated as the new chairperson of the IEBC, is closely associated with State House through Josphat Nanok, who currently serves as the State House Comptroller.
They described Edung as a known supporter of Ruto and further accused him of poor performance during his time as the County Attorney in Turkana County.
“Erastus Edung, the nominee for IEBC chairperson, is a staunch Ruto ally. His link to State House comes through Comptroller Josphat Nanok.
His record as Turkana’s County Attorney is disappointing and full of failures,” the opposition’s statement read.
The opposition also raised concern over Hassan Noor, another nominee, who they claim is a relative of Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.
They alleged that Noor’s inclusion in the process was due to Junet’s influence, which extended the panel’s operation time, allowing for political maneuvering.
In addition, they accused Joy Midivo of being a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party official, and said Charles Nyachae is another long-time ally of President Ruto.
They also pointed out that Adams Aloo, who served on the IEBC selection panel, is Ruto’s strategic communications advisor.
The opposition believes the entire selection process lacked fairness, neutrality, and independence.
They claim the process was dominated by political interests, and say it was a deliberate move by both President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to manipulate the 2027 elections in their favor.
“From the very beginning, the recruitment was tainted. The selection panel was handpicked to serve the interests of State House. It was packed with Ruto’s allies and behind-the-scenes advisors,” the statement said.
They went on to say that key constitutional principles such as consultation, public participation, and political neutrality were completely ignored during the process.
As a result, the commission now lacks public confidence and is seen as politically compromised.
“The Constitution was sidelined in favor of political convenience. The outcome is a commission that lacks legitimacy, credibility, and trust among the people,” they said.
In response to what they call a flawed process, the opposition has announced plans to form a separate citizen-led commission called the “People’s IEBC.”
According to them, this new watchdog group will monitor and audit the official commission to ensure it adheres to constitutional standards and remains accountable to the public.
“We are taking action immediately to establish a parallel electoral commission—People’s IEBC. This will be a citizens’ watchdog that mirrors the official body and demands accountability, transparency, and integrity as guided by Article 10 of the Constitution on national values and principles of good governance,” the statement explained.
They have also demanded that the government release the final report of the selection panel and the Hansard records from the recruitment process.
This, they say, will allow the public to examine how the nominees were chosen and whether the process followed the required legal standards.
“The people deserve to know how these decisions were made. The selection criteria and proceedings should be transparent. That’s why we are calling for the immediate release of the panel’s exit report and all Hansard records related to the process,” the opposition leaders said.
They emphasized that Article 88(2) of the Constitution clearly states the IEBC must be free from political influence, independent, and impartial.
They argued that what President Ruto has created instead is an extension of his political campaign machine disguised as an electoral commission.
“This is not an independent body. It is a politically-controlled extension of Ruto’s campaign team, designed to serve the interests of the ruling elite rather than the people,” they concluded.
President Ruto had on Thursday, May 8, officially nominated Erastus Edung as the IEBC Chairperson and six other individuals to serve as commissioners, based on recommendations made by a Selection Panel led by Nelson Makanda. The other nominees are:
- Ann Njeri Nderitu, currently serving as Registrar of Political Parties
- Moses Alutalala Mukhwana
- Mary Karen Sorobit
- Hassan Noor Hassan
- Francis Odhiambo Aduol
- Fahima Araphat Abdallah
The President submitted the names to the National Assembly for vetting and urged the legislators to prioritize the review of the nominees so that the IEBC can begin its work in preparation for the upcoming elections.
Despite the president’s appeal for quick action, the opposition remains firm in its rejection of the process, accusing Ruto of turning the IEBC into a political tool to influence the next elections.
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