Fahima Abdallah has been elected Vice Chairperson of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), stepping into a key role just hours after the swearing-in of a new team to lead the embattled agency.

The decision was made during the Commission’s first plenary session on Friday, July 11, in Nairobi, chaired by newly appointed IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon.

In a statement following the meeting, Ethekon said the Commission was focused on rebuilding public trust and delivering credible polls. “The Commission congratulates Commissioner Fahima on her election,” he said. “We remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s democratic process.”

The plenary was the first official sitting of the reconstituted electoral body, coming just hours after the seven commissioners took their oath of office at the Supreme Court.

Fahima will now deputise Ethekon in steering the IEBC through preparations for the 2027 General Election—a task already attracting sharp public scrutiny following years of electoral controversy.

Sworn In Amid High Expectations

The new commissioners—Fahima Abdallah, Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, and Francis Odhiambo Aduol—were sworn in by Chief Justice Martha Koome on Friday morning.

In her address, Koome issued a pointed reminder of Kenya’s troubled electoral past. “Our painful history of disputed elections, cycles of violence, and the loss of life and property is a stark reminder that elections are not mere political events—they are matters of national security, economic stability, and human rights,” she said.

The Chief Justice urged the new team to act independently and rise above political pressure. “Let the first word in your name—Independent—be your constant guide,” she told them.

Public Trust at Stake

The appointments come at a critical juncture for Kenya’s electoral commission, which has faced public disillusionment and legal wrangles in recent years. Until Thursday, the future of the new team remained uncertain, with a court order temporarily halting the appointments.

A three-judge bench later lifted the order, clearing the way for President William Ruto to formalise the appointments through a fresh gazettement.

The IEBC now faces the difficult task of proving it can deliver free and fair elections amid growing frustration over state accountability and transparency.

CJ Koome summed up the stakes plainly: “The country is crying out for integrity, transparency, accountability, and justice.”