Adams Oloo. [IMAGE: FILE]Member of IEBC selection panel Prof. Adams Oloo has dismissed calls demanding his resignation over his alleged role in President William Ruto's administration.
A section of Kenyans had demanded he resign saying his existence on the panel could lead to a conflict of interest following his appointment as strategy and communications advisor in the Office of the President by Ruto.
The role fell within the President's Council of Economic Advisors.
But Oloo in a statement on Tuesday, allayed the fears saying he had resigned as Ruto's advisor to take up his role as a member of IEBC selection anel.
''Given that my name was due to be forwarded to the President for formal gazettement as per the law. I, after consultation and in concurrence with H.E. the President, resigned from the position of advisor to the president,'' Oloo said.
''That resignation is contained in a letter dated 24th January 2025.''
Oloo clarified that he was appointed to the IEBC selection panel as the representative of the Public Service Commission which was given two slots.
His appointment, he said, followed a competitive process that saw him emerge as the qualified person to represent the PSC.
''I was one of the nominees of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) that had two slots. I became one of the nominees of PSC courtesy of competitive interviews conducted under the chairmanship of the Speaker on July 26th 2024," he said.
''Subsequently, the President in conformity with my nomination by the Parliamentary Service Commission via Gazette Notice Vol CXXVII- NO 17 appointed me as a member of the Selection Panel for the recruitment of nominees for appointment of the Chairperson and members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.''
Oloo said he resigned as Ruto's advisor out of the belief that getting the IEBC right is critical to the future stability of the nation.
He said the decision was to also rid the IEBC chair and commissioners' recruitment process of perceptions of partiality.
"That remains my position as I and my fellow panelists continue to undertake this noble task that with the support of all Kenyans can lead to the country having a credible Electoral body," Oloo stated.
The clarification came hot on the heels of a petition filed by Lawyer Apollo Mboya against his membership on the panel.
Mboya argued that his appointment was in contravention of the principle of separation of powers and representation as outlined in the IEBC Act Cap 7C presenting a conflict of interest given that, according to him, he was serving as Ruto's advisor.
“The second respondent's (Oloo) position in the panel presents a brazen conflict of interest and is an affront to the principle of separation of powers and representation that was intended by the IEBC Act Cap 7C Laws of Kenya,” says Mboya.
