KENYA: Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati is admitted in hospital critically ill.

Mr. Chebukati is admitted in a Nairobi hospital where he has been undergoing treatment for nearly a week.

According to Hospital sources, the Former IEBC boss is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital, a source commented "We are monitoring his situation at the ICU,".

According to Close family the former IEBC boss has been undergoing treatment at home and was taken to the Hospital after the situation got dire.

The Family and Hospital Sources could not reveal more, stating that what Chebukati ails from remains private.

More details to follow...

Meanwhile, The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has officially kick-started the recruitment process for its vacant Chairperson and commissioner positions, after receiving 1,848 applications.

The IEBC selection panel, led by chairperson Nelson Makanda, is now in the process of verifying the applications, with a public list of candidates expected to be published soon.

"We are fully committed to ensuring a fair and transparent selection process. At every stage of the recruitment exercise, the public will be kept informed, and we will strive to uphold the integrity of the process." said Mr. Makanda.

The vacancies within the IEBC arose after the term of chairperson Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu expired on January 16, 2023. Their exit left the electoral body in need of new leadership.

Additionally, four other commissioners—former Vice Chair Juliana Cherera, Irene Masit, Justus Nyang'aya, and Francis Wanderi—were dismissed following their contentious handling of the 2022 presidential election results.

The dismissed commissioners, known as the "Cherera Four," caused a stir when they publicly questioned the legitimacy of the election results, claiming that the numbers announced by Chebukati had not been properly tabulated.

Their dissent, which cast doubt on the transparency of the election, led to accusations of them colluding with figures from the Azimio la Umoja coalition to influence the outcome in favor of Raila Odinga.

As the political storm surrounding the election results continues to swirl, the role of the new commission leaders will be pivotal in restoring credibility to the electoral process.

For now, Hussein Marjan remains the only standing head of the IEBC, serving as the acting CEO.

Makanda reassured the public that the selection panel would proceed with due diligence, saying, "This is a process that we understand the public cares deeply about, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards of fairness."