This is after the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetang’ula directed the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) to proceed with the exercise, which had been temporarily stopped following a petition challenging the legality of the selection process.
The High Court had earlier issued conservatory orders stopping the gazettement of the nominees and their swearing-in.
“IT IS NOTIFIED to the general public that, pursuant to Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), and further to the Notification made on 12th May, 2025, the Departmental Committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs shall conduct Approval Hearings (Vetting) of the nominees on Saturday 315′ May 2025 in the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall, Parliament Buildings from 9:30 am”, reads a notification from the Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge,
The Committee will then be required to submit its report supporting or opposing the nominations to the House.
During a National Assembly session Thursday, Wetang’ula stated that no one has the power to contest or stop its proceedings, but only the outcome.
“For avoidance of doubt, nobody has the power under any law or our Constitution to injunct Parliament from doing its work,” he said.
He added, “I direct the JLAC Committee to proceed without hesitation and vet the nominees for chairman and members of IEBC and bring the report to this House. Any aggrieved party, whether in the Judiciary, the Executive or the general public, can then go to court and challenge.”
On May 8th, President Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the next IEBC chairperson. He also named Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla as commissioners.
Margaret Kalekye
