Who is IEBC chairperson nominee Erastus Edung Ethekon?

IEBC chairperson nominee Erastus Ethekon when he appeared for the interviews on March 25, 2025/FILE

President William Ruto’s nominee for the IEBC chairperson position Erastus Edung Ethekon, is one step away from heading the country’s electoral agency.

This if the National Assembly approves his nomination to the influential position of manning the country's elections.

His name, together with those of the six persons nominated as members of IEBC, was transmitted to Parliament by Ruto for consideration and approval.

"This presidential action follows the recommendations of the Selection Panel on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, as transmitted on Tuesday, May 6, 2025," the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said.

Interviews for the chairperson position were held from March 24 to 26, while those for commissioner roles ran from March 26 to April 24.

If approved, Ethekon will immediately be tasked with heading a team that will oversee several pending by-elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 General Elections.

He will take the position formerly held by the late Wafula Chebukati.

Education

Ethekon has a Masters of Law degree in oil, gas and energy law from the University of Derby in the United Kingdom.

He also holds a Masters of Science degree in Project Management from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.

He also has a Master of Arts (M.A) Degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies from Universidad Jaume I in Valencia, Spain and a Post Graduate Certificate in Implementation of International Human Rights Treaties (British Foreign and Commonwealth Chevning Fellowship) from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.

Ethekon also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Government (2003) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) Degree from the University of Nairobi.

He has been a Consultant Partner at the Northern Consulting Solution and E. Ethekon & Co. Advocates from 2004 up to now.

Previously, he worked as County Attorney in the Office of the County Attorney in the County Government of Turkana (2018-2024).

Ethekon has further worked as Programme Coordinator and Chief Technical Advisor on Area Based Development Programming in Kenya, UNRCO (2015-2018).

He was also the Programme Adviser at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Regional Service Centre for Africa and Africa Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2016.

Ethekon further worked as Programmes Management Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) between 2007-2015.

What next?

The selection panel handed its nominees report to Ruto on May 6.

With the receipt of the confidential report, which contained the names of nominees for chairperson and commissioners, the President was by law tasked with selecting the nominees within seven days.

Ethekon was one of the two people proposed for the position of chairperson alongside nine names for commissioner positions.

With the submission of the nonimees to the National Assembly, Parliament will vet the nominees and forward the approved names back to the President.

Within seven days of receiving the approved list, the President is required to formally appoint the chairperson and commissioners through a notice in the Kenya Gazette.

The newly appointed commissioners will immediately be tasked with overseeing several pending by-elections and laying the groundwork for the 2027 General Election, marking a critical phase in the country's electoral preparedness.