Kenya IEBC CEO recruitment process

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) initiated a recruitment process for the position of Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CS/CEO). To manage the process, including advertisement, verification, and shortlisting, the IEBC contracted KPMG Kenya.

Following the announcement of 304 applicants, the commission defended the inclusion of foreign nationals in the applicant pool. The IEBC stated that publishing these names was a measure to uphold constitutional principles of transparency and accountability. While foreign nationals were permitted to apply, the commission clarified that Kenyan citizenship is a mandatory statutory requirement for the role and that ineligible candidates would be screened out.

The IEBC subsequently announced a shortlist of nine candidates for the position. The shortlist includes former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Secretary Halakhe Waqo and Advocate Edward Katana Ngeywa, among others. The commission noted that the selection process aimed to incorporate gender, regional balance, and inclusion for differently-abled persons. Interviews were scheduled to take place in mid-November 2026.