Kenya IEBC defends inclusion of foreign applicants in CEO recruitment

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has defended its decision to publish the names of foreign nationals among the 304 applicants for the position of Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer. The commission stated that the disclosure was a deliberate measure to uphold constitutional principles of transparency, accountability, and public access to information under Articles 35 and 232.

According to the IEBC, the vacancy was advertised publicly via newspapers, its official website, and social media platforms, which allowed any interested individuals to submit credentials. The commission clarified that while foreign nationals were permitted to apply, Kenyan citizenship remains a mandatory statutory requirement for the role. The IEBC maintained that receiving such applications is not irregular in an open recruitment process and that ineligible candidates would be screened out.

To ensure professionalism and independence during this sensitive recruitment, the IEBC has contracted KPMG Kenya to manage the end-to-end process, including advertisement, verification, and shortlisting.