Finding replacements for former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati, Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera and commissioners Boya Molu, Abdi Guliye, Justus Nyang'aya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi is only a step away after President William Ruto assented to the amended IEBC bill.

President Ruto on Monday signed into law the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill during a brief ceremony held at State House, Nairobi.

The Bill approved by the Senate last week altered the composition of the Selection Panel that will spearhead the filling of positions left vacant at IEBC by Chebukati, Molu and Guliye.

Also to be replaced will be former IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera and former commissioners Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi, who were hounded out of office after they dissented against Ruto's win as declared by Chebukati on September 15.

The assent by Ruto means the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) allocated positions in the panel will reduce from the current four to two out of the full Panel’s seven members.

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According to the amendment bill, which has now been signed into law, the Inter-religious Council of Kenya has also been allocated two slots in the selection panel.

The amended law further permits the Public Service Commission, Political Parties Liaison Committee and the Law Society of Kenya to each nominate one member to the Panel.

The IEBC (Amendment) Bill, 2022 approval was backed by 28 senators and opposed by seven after the Senate Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee Chairperson Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei withdrew all proposed changes.


The Bill was moved by Senate Majority Leader, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, during a special sitting on January 19 to consider changes to the composition of the selection panel.

This came days after the six-year tenures of Chebukati, Molu and Guliye came to an end on Tuesday paving way for their replacement by a selection panel as stipulated in the law.