The president of Kenya authorizes new officials to lead the electoral body

President William Ruto of Kenya has sanctioned the appointment of a new chairperson and commissioners to lead the elections commission, as indicated by a legal notice, thereby filling key roles in a nation with a significant history of disputed elections.

The upcoming general election in the East African nation is scheduled for 2027, yet Ruto is facing mounting pressure from street protests organized by young Kenyans who are frustrated with rising living costs, corruption, and police brutality.

The newly appointed chairman and six commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will fulfill their roles for the next six years, as stated in the notice released late on Thursday. They were scheduled to be sworn in on Friday.

In December 2022, Ruto suspended four election commissioners following their rejection of his victory in the elections conducted earlier that year. The Supreme Court addressed the dispute, affirming Ruto’s victory and dismissing the commissioners’ claims regarding the lack of transparency in the vote tallying process.

The commission has been functioning without a chairperson or commissioners since 2023, following the expiration of the terms of the former chairman and the two remaining commissioners.

The selection of new election commissioners, determined by an interview panel and subsequently presented to the president for approval, faced delays partly because of multiple legal petitions, which were dismissed by a high court on Thursday.