“I shall not be biased,” Ethekon vows to deliver credible election as IEBC Chair

The nominee for the position of Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Erastus Ethekon has pledged to uphold the independence of the electoral body to deliver a credible election in 2027.

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) for vetting on Saturday, Ethekon said he will be guided by the Constitution and laws of Kenya to execute his mandate.

“I shall not be biased,” he affirmed. “I will be guided by the laws of Kenya, and through that fidelity to the law, I should be able to follow all the laid processes that will lead us to credible, free, and verifiable elections.”

The nominee also denied any links to former Turkana Governor and current Deputy Chief of Staff at State House, Josphat Nanok.

Ethekon, who previously worked as a legal advisor to Nanok during his tenure as Turkana Governor, told the committee that his past working relationship with Nanok will not in any way interfere with his role at the IEBC.

“I am not even closely related to Hon. Nanok. We are not related, whether by birth or even clan,” he stated.

Ethekon, a lawyer by profession, acknowledged challenges facing the country’s electoral processes, including negative perceptions and instances of malpractice, which he vowed to address if approved as IEBC Chair.

“There have been challenges in terms of negative perceptions and instances of electoral malpractices. But even with these challenges, we as a country must continue to seek refuge in our Constitution and our laws.”

Ethekon placed his net worth at Ksh 276 million, comprising assets such as land, livestock, Safaricom shares, and vehicles.