The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has shortlisted nine people for the post of Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, according to The Star, Kenya. Among them is Halakhe Waqo, who served as the first chief executive of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The commission said interviews will take place on November 12 and 13, 2026, and that each candidate will be told the venue separately.
Why it matters
The hire comes as the commission builds up to the 2027 General Election. The incoming secretary and chief executive will be in place for voter registration, the rollout of electoral technology, boundary-related work and talks with political parties and other stakeholders.
The seat has also been unsettled for much of the year. The previous holder, Marjan Hussein, left in February 2026 after more than ten years at the commission, and the role has since been filled on an acting basis.
Who applied and who made the list
The IEBC advertised the position on July 28, 2026, and closed applications on August 11. It said it received 304 valid applications.
In its notice, the commission said the shortlisting took account of gender, regional balance and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The nine candidates, as reported by The Star, Kenya, are:
- Anthony Omerikwa, Busia County
- Halakhe Waqo, Marsabit County
- Martina Wato Yattani, Marsabit County
- Harley Mutisya, Makueni County
- Edmund Odiwuor Malitt, Homa Bay County
- Andrew Gitau Kimani, Nairobi County
- Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi, Wajir County
- Edward Katama Ngeywa, Trans Nzoia County
- Nelly Ilongo, Taita Taveta County
How the vacancy opened
Marjan announced his departure in a message to staff, saying it followed a mutual agreement on what he described as a structured transition in the office.
He joined the commission as Deputy Commission Secretary and CEO in April 2015 before moving into the top job. In his farewell note, he thanked staff for their work during the 2022 General Election and said the secretariat had kept continuity, stability and institutional readiness through a period of change.
He also urged them to hold to the rule of law, act with integrity and keep the democratic rights of citizens at the centre of their work. He called his time at the commission the greatest honour of his professional life.
Moses Ledama Sunkuli then held the position in an acting capacity for six months, a stint that ended on August 4, 2026. In an internal memo dated that day, IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon said Ruth Kulundu would take over from August 5.
Kulundu was to serve for two months, or until a substantive secretary and CEO was recruited and appointed, whichever came first.
Watch for the interviews on November 12 and 13, after which the commission is expected to move toward appointing a substantive holder of the office.
