High Court Unblocks IEBC Team, Paving Way for 2027 Elections

The High Court in Nairobi has cleared the swearing-in of Erastus Edung Ethekon as Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), alongside six commissioners, in a landmark ruling expected to reset Kenya’s electoral landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a unanimous decision, Justices Roselyne Aburili, John Chigiti, and Bahati Mwamuye upheld the appointments of Ethekon and commissioners Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah for a six-year non-renewable term.

The bench dismissed a petition filed by activists Kelvin Roy Omondi and Boniface Mwangi, ruling that their claims of conflict of interest and lack of inclusivity were unsupported. The court found no violations of constitutional provisions under Articles 22 or 23.

However, the court annulled a June 10 Gazette Notice by President William Ruto, citing a breach of a conservatory order issued by Justice Lawrence Mugambi in May, which had temporarily halted the appointments. The judges directed the issuance of a fresh notice to regularize the process.

Consequently, shortly after the High Court delivered its ruling, President Ruto on July 10 through Gazette Notices No. 9269 and 9270, formally appointed the seven nominees in compliance with the Court's directive, effectively clearing the final legal hurdle for the new IEBC team to assume office.

The officials are now set to be sworn in before Chief Justice Martha Koome, marking a new chapter for the electoral commission. 

The ruling is being seen as a key milestone in restoring public confidence in Kenya’s electoral system and ensuring timely preparations for the 2027 polls.