Nyachae, Amadi among top names seeking to lead IEBC

Former Chief Registrar of the judiciary Ann Amadi is among 37 applicants who want to succeed the late Wafula Chebukati as IEBC Chair. [File, Standard]. The race is on to reconstitute the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the next elections. Former East African Court of Justice judge Charles Nyachae, and former Judiciary Registrars Ann Amadi and Kakai Kissinger are those 37 applicants who want to succeed the late former IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati. Also in the list is the former IEBC Chief Executive Officer, James Oswago, who was implicated in the "Chicken Gate" scandal in the 2013 General Election. In 2022, Oswago was jailed for two years after he was found guilty of irregular award of Sh1.3 billion tender for the supply of voter materials. In October 30, last year, the High Court upheld his conviction and his former deputy, Wilson Shollei. Others who have applied for the IEBC chairmanship include Joy Brenda Masinde, a Ruto ally who was appointed Kenya Power board chairperson in 2022 Others are Dr Duncan Ojwang, another Ruto ally who frequently appeared on television interviews to defend Ruto's candidacy in the last elections. The list released yesterday by the Selection Panel also indicates that 1,319 applicants want to fill the six positions of commissioners. Nyachae, a close ally of President William Ruto, resigned as a judge last year and was appointed by Dr Ruto as the chairperson of the Council of Kenya School of Government following the revocation of Njoki Kahika's appointment. He has held various positions such as the chairperson, Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, and International Commission for Jurists Kenya, and has also been the chaired the Institute for Education and Democracy. Amadi exited the Judiciary last year after serving for 10 years, taking over the position form Gladys Shollei. She had served as a magistrate for six years from 1991 and 1997. Until May, 2008, she was the deputy executive director and head of litigation at the Federation of Women Lawyers, Kenya. She is a former national coordinator of the National Legal Aid and Awareness Programme in Kenya, which was under the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs and designed to improve access to justice for the poor, marginalised and vulnerable. She administered the oath of office to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017 and President Ruto in 2022. Amadi's name featured in a gold scam case in May, 2023, where her son, Brian Ochieng, was an accused person.The case involves Bruton Gold Trading, a gold firm registered in Dubai that was allegedly conned Sh130 million. The case has not been concluded. Kissinger, who has also applied for the IEBC chairmanship, served as the Judiciary acting chief registrar 11 years ago after the post fell vacant following the dismissal of Shollei for what the JSC termed as insubordination and sideshows. A holder of master's degree from Harvard Law School and a post-graduate diploma in international trade law from the University, Kissinger's stint in the Judiciary came to an abrupt end when his contract was terminated following allegations of gross misconduct, among others. He lost his petition against the Judicial Service Commission in 2016. Jacob Ngwele Muvengei, former Nairobi County assembly clerk, is also among the applicants seeking to head the electoral body. In 2020, Muvengei was ordered by the Employment and Labour Relations Court to step aside pending the hearing and determination of his case that sought to challenge the filling the clerk vacancy. His reign saw him differ with former Speaker Beatrice Elachi, now Dagoretti North MP, over efforts to lodge an impeachment Motion against her. Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Lorot, who also served as the National Council on the Administration of Justice chairperson and secretary general of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association, also wants to oversee the 2027 elections. Also in the list is William Otieno Okech, who was appointed by the former ICT CS Joe Mucheru as chairperson of Media Complaints Commission. Among the requirements to be considered for the chairperson position are 15 years of experience as a superior judge, distinguished academic, judicial officer, legal practitioner or such experience in other legally relevant fields.

Nyachae, Amadi among top names seeking to lead IEBC

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