The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has demanded the immediate public release of the report submitted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel to President William Ruto, warning that withholding the document risks undermining public trust in Kenya’s democratic processes.

In a strongly-worded statement released Thursday, May 8, the watchdog coalition, made up of civil society and faith-based organizations, raised alarm over the secrecy surrounding the panel’s report, which followed a month-long interview process to fill top IEBC positions, including the crucial role of chairperson.

“The report was only submitted to the president and was not made public. We demand the immediate release of the full recruitment report,” ELOG said. “Transparency and accountability through the observance of open data principles are fundamental for good governance.”

The panel, led by Rev. Dr. Nelson Makanda, concluded interviews for the IEBC chairperson on March 26 and completed the entire vetting process on April 25. On May 6, the panel formally handed its report to President Ruto at State House, Nairobi. Two days later, Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon of Turkana County as IEBC chairperson and forwarded his name, along with six other nominees for commissioner roles, to Parliament for vetting.

But according to ELOG, the public has a right to know the rationale behind the final list—especially after six additional names were quietly added to the shortlist during the process.

“Our only concern during this process was the addition of six more names to the shortlist without clear information to the public on why this was done,” the statement added.

Despite praising the panel for conducting interviews in a generally open and transparent manner, ELOG emphasized that final accountability lies in making the entire recruitment process visible and understandable to the public.

“Public scrutiny is not a threat—it is a necessary safeguard. The absence of a full public report opens the door to suspicion and speculation, which this country can ill afford,” the group stated.

The six individuals nominated to serve as IEBC commissioners are Ann Njeri Nderitu (Registrar of Political Parties), Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.

The IEBC, which oversees elections in Kenya, has been under intense public focus amid ongoing reforms aimed at restoring credibility to its operations. With the next general election just three years away, the integrity of the current recruitment process is seen as a test of the government’s commitment to electoral justice.