Keeping Up with the Discourse: A New IEBC, Old Challenges, and a Restless Youth

Kenya stands at a pivotal moment in its democratic journey with the National Assembly’s approval of Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on June 4, 2025, alongside six commissioners. This long-overdue reconstitution aims to restore a crippled institution tasked with safeguarding the nation’s electoral integrity. Yet, the shadow of history looms large—decades of politicized commissions, electoral malpractices, and a rising tide of youth-led activism demand scrutiny. As Kenya navigates this delicate transition, the stakes are high: a functional IEBC could anchor trust in the 2027 elections, but failure risks reigniting old wounds and deepening public disillusionment.

Erastus Edung Ethekon, a former Turkana County Attorney with a robust career spanning the United Nations Development Program  and the African Union Development Agency, steps into the IEBC’s helm with a reputation for grassroots engagement and youth empowerment. Dubbed “The Gen Z Chairman” by groups like Bunge La Mwananchi, Ethekon’s resume—rich with human rights and governance work—suggests promise. Yet, opposition leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka have raised alarms over potential ties to government elites, a concern echoed during vetting. The six commissioners—Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah—bring varied expertise but face similar scrutiny. Nderitu’s role as Registrar of Political Parties and Hassan’s alleged links to ODM’s Junet Mohamed have sparked fears of partisanship, while the others, though less documented, are not immune to questions of impartiality. A High Court ruling delaying their swearing-in, prompted by activists Kelvin Roy Omondi and Boniface Mwangi, underscores the fragile trust in this new lineup. For a generation demanding accountability, these appointments must prove their independence to inspire confidence.

A Troubled Electoral Legacy

Kenya’s electoral history is a tapestry of ambition and betrayal. The Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), which oversaw the 2007 elections, collapsed under the weight of rigging allegations, triggering violence that claimed over 1,100 lives. Its successor, the IEBC, promised reform under the 2010 Constitution but stumbled in 2017 when the Supreme Court nullified the presidential results over irregularities. Commissioner Roselyn Akombe’s resignation and flight to the US, citing death threats, and the 2017 murder of Chris Msando as well as that of an Embakasi based returning officer  Daniel Mbolu Musyoka  in 2022 , reveal the dangers of electoral service. Earlier, the Moi and Kenyatta eras saw vote buying, voter intimidation, and media manipulation as tools of state control. Civil society groups like Transparency International Kenya and Mzalendo Trust have chronicled incremental gains—stronger legal frameworks and parallel vote tabulation in 2022—but warn that politicized appointments and delays, like the IEBC’s two-year vacancy since January 2023, threaten progress. The mysterious death of former Chairman Wafula Chebukati in 2025 and resignations under pressure highlight a grim reality: electoral justice in Kenya is a high-risk pursuit.

The Cost of Delay and the Rise of Gen Z

The IEBC’s prolonged absence has left constituencies like Banissa and Magarini without MPs, stalling by-elections and boundary reviews critical for fair representation. Political wrangling between President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza and Raila Odinga’s Azimio coalitions, only resolved through the 2024 NADCO agreement, exposed how elite power plays exploit institutional gaps. Meanwhile, a new force has emerged: Gen Z. The 2024 Finance Bill protests, driven by tech-savvy youth, not only forced the bill’s withdrawal but also sparked recall attempts against MPs who supported it. Though no Kenyan parliamentarian has ever been successfully recalled due to legal and logistical hurdles, the movement signals a growing rejection of the political class. In Central Kenya, the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his soft launch of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) have fueled anti-Ruto sentiment. The withdrawal of permits for DCP’s Kasarani launch hints at state resistance, but the region’s shifting loyalties could test the recall mechanism’s viability. For a generation raised on hashtags and hustle, the IEBC’s revival is more than bureaucratic—it’s a litmus test for democracy’s responsiveness.

As Kenya awaits the IEBC’s operational restart, the nation stands at a crossroads. A functional commission could restore faith in elections, ensuring voices from Nairobi’s streets to Turkana’s villages are heard. But the ghosts of past failures—rigged polls, silenced officials, and elite pacts—linger. Civil society’s push for transparency and Gen Z’s demand for accountability offer hope, yet the legal battles delaying the new commissioners’ swearing-in remind us that trust is hard-won. The youth, restless and vocal, are watching. Will Ethekon and his team rise above political pressures to deliver a credible 2027 election? Or will Kenya’s electoral story remain a cycle of promise and peril? For a nation yearning for fairness, the answer lies in the courage to demand better—and the will to act on it.

Written by Otieno Arudo