"Every voice will count", says IEBC Chair Erastus Ethekon as he assures credible 2027 elections

The newly appointed Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Erastus Ethekon, has pledged to deliver credible and transparent elections, urging Kenyans to stand firm in safeguarding democratic values.

Ethekon spoke on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony at the Supreme Court Buildings in Nairobi, where he and six new commissioners officially took office for a six-year term as Chief Justice Martha Koome witnessed.

In his speech, Ethekon described his appointment as a “profound honour” and said the commission’s mandate must be executed with integrity, urgency, and full commitment to the law and public expectations.

“Free and fair and credible elections are the cornerstone of our democratic society. The IEBC is entrusted with the solemn responsibility to ensure that every citizen’s voice is not only heard but honoured,” he said.

He emphasised that his first loyalty is to the people of Kenya, citing Article 1 of the Constitution, which places sovereign power in the hands of citizens.

“I therefore wish to assure Kenyans that their voices will not only be heard, but they will also count during the coming elections,” Ethekon added.

The IEBC boss also commended the selection panel, Parliament, the president, and the judiciary for what he called a rigorous and transparent recruitment process.

He specifically thanked Chief Justice Martha Koome for expediting judicial processes that affirmed the legality of their appointments.

“Lady Justice, I also would like to thank the Judiciary, the Chief Justice for the commendable job they did in expediting the process… and for affirming the legality of our appointment,” Ethekon said.

Joining Ethekon at the commission are Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah. The swearing-in followed fresh Gazette Notices No. 9269 and 9270 issued on July 10, 2025, by President William Ruto, regularising the appointments after a court quashed previous notices due to procedural issues.

The High Court, in its Thursday ruling, nullified Gazette Notices No. 7724 and 7725 issued on June 10, citing violations of interim orders.

However, the judges clarified that their decision did not affect the legitimacy or merit of the individuals appointed.

Ethekon also addressed the challenges of misinformation and fake news, saying they pose a serious threat to public trust in electoral processes. However, he noted this is also an opportunity to engage the media in fostering transparency.

“We also have an opportunity to work with those news outlets to ensure that we educate, we inform, and we focus on factual truths… so that we build trust in the credibility of our institutions such as IEBC,” he said.

He reminded the public that credible elections require joint effort beyond the commission. “A credible election is not a responsibility of the IEBC alone.

It is a national responsibility,” Ethekon stated, calling on institutions and stakeholders to collaborate ahead of upcoming by-elections and the next general election.

As he concluded, Ethekon urged Kenyans to remain active participants in the democratic process and paid tribute to his predecessors for building the foundation on which the new team will work.
He quoted Larry J. Sabato, saying, “Every election is determined by the people who show up,” and added, “You must show up, you must engage, you must vote, and you must participate