15-year experience requirement for IEBC CEO job unlawful Court rules

The High Court has declared as unlawful the requirement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for one to have 15 years experience in order to apply for the Chief Executive Officer position.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Hellen Wasilwa on Wednesday said IEBC acted outside the provisions of the law by requiring applicants to have 15 years of professional experience to apply for the post previously held by Ezra Chiloba.

Justice Wasilwa further ruled that the manner in which the advertisement calling for applicants for the position was couched, was outside the legislative scope and IEBC’s mandate, adding that section 10 of the IEBC Act does not provide the minimum years of general work experience that the CEO must have.

In the case,Henry Mutundu challenged the requirements set by IEBC saying that they were unfair and against the law.

He said that IEBC wanted a person who has had 15 years of experience against the set threshold of five years.

The position fell vacant following the sacking of Ezra Chiloba in October last year.