The People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms has given the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) 24 hours to verify the authenticity of its chief executive officer recruitment list, alleging anomalies involving approximately 44 applicants whose names it says raise questions about their citizenship.
In a statement on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the coalition demanded that the electoral commission provide evidence confirming the identities, citizenship status and applications of the individuals in question.
“Where then, is the correct list of applicants?” the coalition asked, questioning the authenticity of the published longlist.
The group warned that failure by the IEBC to provide the requested documentation would prompt legal action under the right to information, citing concerns about transparency ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The dispute comes as the IEBC advances recruitment for its top administrative position. The commission has published a shortlist of nine candidates selected from 304 valid applications, with interviews scheduled for November 12 and 13, 2026.
The nine shortlisted candidates are Anthony Omerikwa, Halakhe Waqo, Harley Mutisya, Edmund Odiwuor Malitt, Andrew Gitau Kimani, Mohamed Abdullahi Abdi, Edward Katama Ngeywa, Martina Wato Yattani and Nelly Ilongo.
The candidates are listed against counties including Busia, Marsabit, Makueni, Homa Bay, Nairobi, Wajir, Trans Nzoia and Taita Taveta. Among them are former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chief executive Halakhe Waqo and National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse chief executive Anthony Omerikwa.
The IEBC has said the shortlisting considered gender, regional balance and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. Candidates are required to present identification documents, academic and professional certificates, testimonials and clearance documents from relevant public agencies during the recruitment process.
However, the coalition’s allegations concern approximately 44 names it says appeared on the published longlist and which it claims raise questions about the applicants’ nationality. Its statement does not identify those individuals or provide evidence establishing that they are foreign nationals. The nine shortlisted candidates named above should not be confused with the disputed names.
The coalition also called for public disclosure and vetting of recruitment lists for other key electoral positions, including 290 constituency returning officers, 47 county election managers and more than 55,000 presiding officers.
It argued that transparency in recruitment was essential to protecting public confidence in the electoral process, invoking Articles 10, 73 and 232 of the Constitution, which address national values, leadership integrity and public service principles.
The IEBC’s response to the coalition’s allegations was not included in its statement. The claims about the applicants’ identities and citizenship have not been independently established.
The coalition said its demand formed part of its “288 days of absolute electoral integrity vigilance” and warned against what it described as opaque recruitment practices within the electoral system.
It maintained that failure to address the concerns at the recruitment stage could undermine public trust in the management of the 2027 polls.
