All eyes are now on the panel for the appointment of commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission following the conclusion of oral interviews.
The panel has retreated to pick names that will be submitted to President Uhuru Kenyatta for consideration.
It follows the conclusion of rigorous 12-day oral interviews.
“As the panel retires to consider the candidates' performance, we wish to affirm that in the execution of our mandate, we shall remain true to the oath we took at the precincts of the apec court of the land,” the chair of the panel, Elizabeth Muli said.
Muli added that the exercise, which was held in public, reminded Kenyans of the wealth of resources that the country has in human capital.
“Through the intellectual capabilities demonstrated, candidates have rekindled in each and every one of us our patriotic spirit,” she stated.
She thanked the media “for their critical support in opening a window into the interviewing process right from the psychometric testing up to the end of the interviewing process.”
All the 36 shortlisted applicants were subjected to a psychometric test and then a week later the panel embarked on the oral interviews.
A total of 35 candidates took the oral interviews that were held between July 7-23. One candidate withdrew his candidature after questions were raised over his academic papers.
Four positions were left vacant following the unceremonious exit of Roselyne Akombe, Paul Kurgat, Connie Maina and Margaret Mwachanya after the 2017 General Elections.
Once the panel picks the names, it will forward them to the President for appointment as members of the Commission.
The President shall, within seven days of receipt of the names and forward the list of four nominees to the National Assembly for approval in accordance with the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.
The President shall, within seven days of receipt of the names approved by the National Assembly, by notice in the Gazette, appoint the members of the Commission.
The President is expected to ensure that not more than two-thirds of the members are of the same gender and shall ensure regional balance.
The selection panel shall stand dissolved upon the requisite appointments being made.
A member of the Commission shall be appointed for a single term of six years and shall not be eligible for re-appointment. Members of the Commission shall serve on a full-time basis.
On April 16, the President declared four vacancies in the IEBC after two years of operating with only three commissioners.
Ten days later, the President appointed a panel for the selection of nominees for the appointment of members of the IEBC.
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