Why IEBC’s CEO applicants list included foreign nationals

Nairobi, Kenya − The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has defended its selection of a new Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, asserting that all candidates shortlisted for the role are Kenyan citizens following questions about the nationality of some applicants. The commission clarified that foreign nationals who applied for the position were removed during the initial screening process after verification confirmed they did not meet the mandatory citizenship requirement.

IEBC stated that the recruitment process was managed by KPMG Kenya, which was contracted to handle every aspect of the job posting, application collection, initial screening, and the shortlisting phase. This clarification came after the People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, raised concerns over the inclusion of names in the applicant list that they deemed questionable, pointing to about 44 names in the longlist that appeared to be of foreign, particularly West African, origin.

The coalition questioned the integrity of the recruitment process, demanding transparency and explaining, “Where then, is the correct list of applicants?” They warned that a questionable shortlist could erode public trust in the recruitment of the commission’s top administrative official, stressing the need for the process to be guided by transparency, merit, and integrity.

IEBC defended the publication of all 304 applications as a constitutional requirement to promote transparency and fair competition, citing Articles 35 and 232 of the Constitution. The commission explained that while anyone could apply, only those meeting the stringent criteria qualified, including Kenyan citizenship, a recognized degree, at least five years of senior management experience, and compliance with Kenya’s constitutional leadership standards and the IEBC Act.

Verification confirmed that all foreign applicants failed the citizenship test and were disqualified before shortlisting. IEBC emphasized that the final shortlist consists solely of Kenyan citizens, and all foreign applicants were eliminated at the preliminary stage. The nine candidates shortlisted for the position are scheduled to be interviewed on November 12 and 13, 2026.