Azimio has picked Koki Muli as its representative in the IEBC Selection Panel, paving the way for the gazettement and swearing-in of a team tasked with recruiting new commissioners.
The reconstitution of the IEBC has been a thorny issue in the country following the resignation of commissioners in the disputed 2022 General Elections.
As it stands, the IEBC is not able to conduct elections as the agency is not properly constituted to execute its mandate.
The High Court on Tuesday allowed Azimio to nominate a candidate to the IEBC Selection Panel.
In a ruling delivered before Justice Janet Mulwa, Azimio was subsequently directed to nominate its candidate to the Selection Panel by not later than October 24 this year, by 3 pm.
Mulwa also directed Azimio to conduct a fresh election for the minority coalition cluster in compliance with the law of the First Schedule of IEBC (Amendment) Act 2024, within 48 hours from the date of the ruling.
"The court further directs and orders that Fresh Election for Minority Coalition Cluster for nominees to the IEBC selection panel be held in strict compliance with provisions of Sections 2(B) and 2(C) of the First Schedule of IEBC (Amendment) Act 2024, within 48 hours of this judgment/orders, and in any event not later than 3.00 pm on 24/10/2024,’’ Mulwa said.
US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman had warned that Kenya’s democracy was in jeopardy due to the delay in recruitment of new IEBC commissioners.
Speaking on Wednesday during a high-level meeting with IEBC Commission Secretary and CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, Ambassador Whitman emphasised the vital role of IEBC in ensuring free and fair elections and called for immediate action to secure its stability.
“IEBC Kenya’s ability to support democracy in Kenya is at risk without the recruitment of commissioners or parliamentary action to provide IEBC funding for voter registration, by-elections, and other election activities,” the US Embassy in Nairobi said in a statement on X.