Following the shortlisting of the candidates, the next phase involves interviews, before identifying the most suitable individuals.
The gender breakdown of applicants revealed that 1,078 were male,
representing 80.8 per cent, while 237 were female, accounting for 17.8 per cent of the
total applications.
IEBC selection panel chairperson Nelson Makanda with other members during a past meeting/FILEThere is a strong interest in electoral leadership from Western and Nyanza regions, an analysis of applications received by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panels shows.
A total of 1,319 candidates, according to the selection panel, applied for the commissioner positions, while 37 individuals expressed interest in becoming the next IEBC chairperson.
Homa Bay County topped the list in both submissions for the chairperson and member at five and 63 respectively.
It is followed closely by Kisii with 62, Bungoma with 59, and Kakamega with 54.
Others leading counties from the region are Siaya (43), Kisumu (39), Busia (36), Migori (36), Nyamira (35) and Vihiga (34).
In Mt Kenya, Meru alone, however, recorded a significant number with 43 applicants just like North Eastern's Wajir which has 37.
Trans Nzoia has 36.
On the contrary, Lamu had the lowest number of applicants at just three, followed by Turkana and Samburu with seven each.
Others where the interest in these positions is low are Tharaka Nithi (eight), Nyandarua (eight), Nairobi (eight), and Laikipia (nine).
The gender breakdown of applicants revealed that 1,078 were male, representing 80.8 per cent, while 237 were female, accounting for 17.8 per cent of the total applications.
The panel also stated that duplicate applications were recorded for both roles, alongside 91 unreferenced applications and 14 deemed as stray submissions.
The reconstitution of the IEBC follows the exit of the previous commissioners, including the late Wafula Chebukati, who had served as chairperson, and other senior officials who left after the 2022 General Elections.
The selection of new commissioners is critical, as the commission plays a pivotal role in managing elections, voter registration, boundary delimitation, and electoral dispute resolution.
The vacancies in the commission have delayed key electoral activities, including the planning of upcoming by-elections and preparations for the 2027 poll.
Various political stakeholders, civil society groups, and citizens have been urging the government to expedite the process to ensure a fully functional electoral body ahead of future elections.
Aware of the public’s trust deficit in the commission and the recruitment process, the Selection Panel’s chairperson Nelson Makanda has assured the the public of fairness in the process.
“In selecting the nominees, the Panel is committed to conducting a fair and transparent process. The public and applicants should be assured of the highest standards of integrity, impartiality, and accountability in every aspect of the panel’s work,” he said.
Following the shortlisting of the candidates, the next phase involves interviews, before identifying the most suitable individuals.
