Former EACC CEO Halakhe Waqo, NACADA boss Anthony Omerikwa among nine candidates on IEBC CEO shortlist

Former EACC CEO Halakhe Waqo, NACADA boss Anthony Omerikwa among nine candidates on IEBC CEO shortlist - IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon speaks during a past event. (Photo: X/ IEBC)

The commission said it received 304 valid applications after advertising the position on July 28, with the application period closing on August 11.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has shortlisted nine candidates for interviews for the position of Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CS/CEO), as preparations continue ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a notice published on Wednesday, October 28, the commission said the candidates would be interviewed on November 12 and 13, 2026, with five appearing before the panel on the first day and four on the second.

The shortlisted candidates are National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) CEO Anthony Omerikwa (Busia), former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo (Marsabit), Harley Mutisya (Makueni), Edmund Odiwuor Malitt (Homa Bay), Andrew Gitau Kimani (Nairobi), Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi (Wajir), Edward Katama Ngeywa (Trans Nzoia), Martina Wato Yattani (Marsabit) and Nelly Ilongo (Taita Taveta).

According to the interview schedule, Omerikwa will appear at 9:00 am on November 12, followed by Waqo at 10.30 am, Mutisya at noon, Malitt at 2:00 pm and Kimani at 3.30 pm.

On November 13, Abdi is scheduled for 9:00 am, followed by Ngeywa at 10.30 am, Yattani at noon and Ilongo at 2:00 pm.

The commission said it received 304 valid applications after advertising the position on July 28, with the application period closing on August 11. It added that the final shortlist considered gender, regional balance and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

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The list comprises eight men and one woman, while Ngeywa is identified as a person with a disability.

Shortlisted candidates have been instructed to present original identification documents, academic and professional certificates, transcripts, testimonials and other supporting documents during the interviews.

They must also provide clearance documents from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Revenue Authority, Higher Education Loans Board and a registered Credit Reference Bureau.

The IEBC warned that canvassing would result in automatic disqualification and said only shortlisted applicants would be contacted. The commission will communicate the interview venue to each candidate individually.

The recruitment is a key step in filling the commission’s top administrative position, which supports its operations and implementation of its electoral mandate ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The recruitment follows the departure of former Commission Secretary and CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan on February 3, 2026, after both parties agreed to terminate his services by mutual consent.

Marjan was appointed to the substantive position in March 2022, having served as acting CEO for nearly five years following the exit of his predecessor, Ezra Chiloba.

Moses Ledama Sunkuli subsequently served as acting CEO for six months before Ruth Kulundu took over on August 5, 2026, pending the appointment of a substantive office-holder.