Former IEBC CEO Oswago, ex-Chief Judiciary registrar Amadi among 37 applicants for chair position

Dr. Nelson Makanda, the Chairperson of the IEBC Selection Panel, released the list of 37 Kenyans who applied for the chairperson positions and 1,319 others for member positions on Wednesday.

Former IEBC CEO James Oswago, former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi, and former East African Court of Justice judge Charles Nyachae are among the prominent Kenyans vying for the commission's key seat.

The panel now has a 90-day time timeline to fill the position of the chairperson and six commissioners by May.

Positions on the electoral body's commission became vacant on January 16, 2023, when chairperson Wafula Chebukati announced his departure, along with commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu, whose 6-year terms had expired.

After disputing the 2022 Presidential election results, former IEBC Vice Chair Juliana Cherera and commissioners Irene Masit, Justus Nyang'aya, and Francis Wanderi were dismissed.

The four former Commissioners, known as the 'Cherera Four,' cast widespread doubt on the credibility of last year's election, claiming that the results declared by Chebukati were never tabulated as required.

They were accused of working with high-profile Azimio la Umoja coalition operatives to favour Raila Odinga's bid.