Former EACC boss Halakhe Waqo among 9 shortlisted for IEBC CEO position

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has shortlisted nine candidates for interviews for the position of Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CS/CEO), with interviews scheduled for November 12 and 13, 2026.

The candidates were drawn from different counties, including Busia, Marsabit, Makueni, Homa Bay, Nairobi, Wajir, Trans Nzoia and Taita Taveta.

Among those listed are the former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) CEO Halakhe Waqo and the acting National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) boss Dr. Anthony Omerikwa.

Harley Mutisya and Edmund Odiwuor Malitt, Andrew Gitau Kimani and Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi were also among those selected following a review of 304 valid applications received by the commission.

The other shortlisted candidates are Edward Katama Ngeywa, Martina Wato Yattani and Nelly Ilongo.

In a notice announcing the shortlist, the commission said the selection process took into account the need for inclusion, particularly gender, regional balance and the representation of persons with disabilities.

The recruitment process began with an advertisement published in print media and on the IEBC website on July 28, 2026. Applications closed on August 11 at 5pm, with the Commission receiving 304 valid applications.

The applications were assessed against criteria including Kenyan citizenship, submission of complete and valid application documents, compliance with Chapter Six requirements, and relevant professional experience commensurate with the scope and complexity of the position.

The shortlisted candidates will be interviewed on November 12 and 13, with the commission set to communicate the venue to each candidate individually.

The successful candidate will take over from Marjan Hussein Marjan, who held the position from 2022 until his resignation on February 3, 2026