Kenya’s newly appointed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson and commissioners have received a vote of confidence from a coalition of 13 diplomatic missions.
In a joint statement issued on July 15, ambassadors and high commissioners from key nations, including Germany, the UK, and the US, lauded the appointments and underscored the critical role of independent institutions in safeguarding democratic processes.
The statement specifically welcomed the new team, reaffirming the IEBC’s “foundational role in safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s electoral processes and ensuring public confidence in democratic outcomes.
” The envoys stressed that independent institutions are paramount to upholding constitutional provisions, particularly those guaranteeing “free, fair, and credible elections.”
Expressing their collective confidence, the diplomatic community urged the new IEBC leadership to “carry out their mandate with impartiality, transparency, and professionalism in service to all Kenyans.”
This endorsement comes at a crucial time as the IEBC moves to reconstitute itself fully after operating without a complete commission since the departure of former chair the late Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu, Abdi Guliye, Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit, and Justus Nyang’aya.
President William Ruto officially appointed Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new IEBC Chairperson for a six-year term on July 10, 2025, alongside six other commissioners for a similar tenure.
The envoys called upon Parliament and the National Treasury to provide the IEBC with “timely and sufficient budgetary support” to ensure effective and independent operations.
They also emphasized the importance of ensuring all eligible citizens can register as voters and participate fully in the electoral process, affirming their readiness to partner in strengthening Kenya’s electoral systems and bolstering public trust in its democratic institutions.
