CJ Koome Urges New IEBC Team to Rebuild Trust and Act Fast

• Jul 11, 2025

Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged the newly sworn-in IEBC commissioners to urgently restore public confidence and ensure credible elections, warning that the future of Kenya’s democracy depends on their actions.

Speaking at the Supreme Court on Friday after overseeing the swearing-in of Chairperson Erastus Edung Ekethon and six other commissioners, Koome emphasized that their job is not just about organizing elections, but about safeguarding the country’s democratic foundation.

She said the oath they had taken was not a mere formality but a powerful commitment to the people of Kenya.

“In you now recites the solemn responsibility to safeguard one of the most sacred rights in our Constitution, the right of every Kenyan to participate in free, fair and credible elections,” Koome stated.

She reminded the commissioners that their appointment comes at a time when public frustration, especially among the youth, is high. According to Koome, public service must now reflect humility, integrity, and a strong commitment to constitutional values.

“The cry from every corner of our nation is for integrity, transparency, accountability and justice,” she said.

Koome challenged the commissioners to identify and correct any weaknesses within the IEBC, stressing that they had been entrusted with this mandate to fix what was broken.

“Whatever you find not working and serving Kenyans properly at the IEBC, you must confront it, and you must fix it,” she told them.

Highlighting the nation’s painful history with disputed elections, she stressed that electoral credibility was not just a legal issue but a matter of national security.

“Elections are not just political events. They are national security,” she added, urging the commission to weigh the impact of every vote on both human rights and the economy.

Koome also called on the IEBC to uphold its independence and resist any attempts at external influence.

“May the first prefix of your name, Independent, always sound a clear tone… especially if anybody or any institution attempts to interfere with your decision making,” she warned.

Acknowledging the lengthy recruitment process, Koome said the time for preparation was now. She urged the commission to immediately begin preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The newly appointed commissioners—Ekethon, Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah—were formally gazetted by President William Ruto on July 10, following a High Court ruling that upheld their appointments despite procedural issues with earlier notices.

Koome concluded by urging the team to let their oath guide every action and decision they make.

“You must always ask how your decisions impact society,” she said.