NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 27- President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed a seven-member team to the Selection Panel for the recruitment of four commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Those appointed include Dr. Elizabeth Muli, Gideon Solonka, Awori Achoka, Elizabeth Odundo and Dorothy Kimengech.
Others are reverend Joseph Ngumbi and Dr. Farudin Suleiman.
The members consist of four nominees from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), one from the Law Society of Kenya, and two from the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.
The four positions at IEBC fell vacant after the resignation of the Vice-Chairperson Cornie Maina and Commissioners Paul Kurgat and Margaret Mwachanya in 2018, leaving Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and Commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu in office.
Commissioner Roselyne Akombe was the first to exit, having resigned prior to the October 26, 2017 repeat presidential elections.
The selection panel shall, within seven days, invite applications from qualified persons and publish the names of all applicants and their qualifications in the Kenya Gazette, two newspapers with national circulation and on the PSC website.
It shall then consider the applications, shortlist and interview the applicants.
The Head of State declared the positions vacant on April 16.
The IEBC Act establishes an electoral commission comprising seven commissioners, including the Chairperson.
The IEBC is not fully constituted despite the country staring at an imminent national referendum and the 2022 General Election.
The President signed into law the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in 2020 paving the way for filling the four vacant positions at the electoral body.
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