Following claims of possible impartiality, longtime friend and lawyer to president Dr William Samoei Ruto, Katwa Kigen has dropped his bid for the position of Commissioner in the ongoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vetting exercise.
Kigen was slated to appear before the IEBC selection panel on Thursday but honorably cited the “need to avoid unnecessary attention that could distract from the commission’s core mandate.”
Katwa Kigen has a long history of representing President Ruto having been part of the battery of lawyers that represented the then Deputy President Ruto at the Hague during the infamous case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During the 2022 presidential election petition brought by Raila Odinga to the Supreme Court, Katwa Kigen was lead-lawyer for president Dr William Samoei Ruto.
Although he posses requisite qualifications for the role of IEBC Commissioner, Katwa Kigen would have faced serious credibility issues had he chosen to proceed with the vetting.
Meanwhile, suspicion has shrouded the selection panel when an additional six candidates surfaced mysteriously expanding the shortlisted candidates from 105 to 111.
By the time the submission for application deadline was closed in March only 105 candidates were shortlisted for the positions of Commissioner and Chairpersons to the Commission.
The six names that have mysteriously surfaced on the vetting list are: Hassan Noor Hassan, Jibril Maalim Mohamed, Michaels Ben Oliewo, Charles Kipyegon Mutai, Stephen Kibet Ngeno, and Joel Mwita Daniel.
Asked where the names had come from Mr. Nelson Makanda, Chairman of the IEBC Selection Panel deftly avoided a direct reply lamely suggesting that they could have forgotten to include the names in the initial list.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is struggling with issues of public trust and such a revelation at this advanced stage has cast grave aspersions as to the credibility of the vetting process.
“The selection panel reserves the right to alter the list and Kenyans should not be quick to jump to conclusions,” said Mr. Makanda, adding “Kenyans should wait and see the final eleven Commissioners that will be approved by this panel. We promise not to disappoint.”
The Panel is expected to finalize the vetting by May 25 and thereafter present to the president the names of 2 nominees for the position of Chairman and 9 nominees for the positions of Commissioner.
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