NAIROBI, KENYA — Fahima Araphat Abdallah has been elected as the Vice Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), marking a key leadership milestone just hours after the new commissioners were officially sworn into office on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Her election was announced during the IEBC’s 288th Plenary Meeting, held shortly after the commissioners took the oath of office in a ceremony aimed at restoring public trust and credibility to Kenya’s electoral body.
“Following the gazettement and subsequent swearing-in of the Chairperson and members of the Commission, we are pleased to announce that Commissioner Fahima Araphat Abdallah has been elected Vice Chairperson,” said IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon in an official statement.
NEW IEBC LEADERSHIP TAKES CHARGE WITH PROMISE OF CREDIBLE ELECTIONS
Chairperson Ethekon, who now leads a full seven-member team, emphasized the commission’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and public service in his post-swearing-in speech at the Supreme Court building.
“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. The IEBC holds a sacred duty to ensure every Kenyan’s voice is heard and honoured,” said Ethekon.
SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY AND COUNTERING FAKE NEWS
Acknowledging past controversies surrounding the electoral body, Ethekon outlined a new vision for fact-based engagement and civic education, vowing to work hand-in-hand with the media to counter disinformation and misinformation—which he described as serious threats to Kenya’s democratic future.
“We have an opportunity to partner with the media to educate and inform citizens with factual truths. Misinformation has the power to destabilize a nation, and we must act decisively to prevent that,” he added.
A UNITED TEAM FOR A HISTORIC MANDATE
The new-look IEBC includes:
- Fahima Araphat Abdallah – Vice Chairperson
- Ann Njeri Nderitu
- Moses Alutalala Mukhwana
- Mary Karen Sorobit
- Hassan Noor Hassan
- Francis Odhiambo Aduol
- Erastus Ethekon – Chairperson
This reconstituted team will oversee upcoming by-elections and prepare the electoral roadmap for the 2027 General Election, a pivotal moment for Kenya’s democratic evolution.
A COLLECTIVE MISSION: TRUST, PEACE, AND PARTICIPATION
Ethekon urged citizens and stakeholders to unite behind the commission’s mandate, emphasizing that credible elections require collective effort from all sectors of society.
“A credible election is not just IEBC’s responsibility—it’s a shared national duty. Let’s work together to ensure that peace, transparency, and justice prevail at the ballot.”
