In Summary:
- Civil rights group Operation Linda Jamii flags nomination of Charles Nyachae as IEBC boss.
- According to activists, Nyachae is currently listed by the CRB, raising serious questions about his financial integrity
A fresh storm is brewing over the ongoing selection of new commissioners for Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after civil rights group Operation Linda Jamii filed a court petition highlighting the inclusion of a Credit Reference Bureau (CRB)-listed nominee.
At the center of the controversy is Charles Nyachae, a government appointee and one of the individuals shortlisted for the IEBC chairperson position by the Dr. Nelson Makanda-led selection panel. According to Operation Linda Jamii, Nyachae is currently listed by the CRB, raising serious questions about his financial integrity and suitability to oversee a body responsible for managing over KSh 66 billion in public funds.
“How can someone flagged by the CRB be entrusted with the leadership of Kenya’s most sensitive electoral institution?” asked Prof. Fred Ogola, founder of Operation Linda Jamii.
“This is a dangerous precedent.”
The group has filed a petition in the High Court, challenging not only the legality of Nyachae’s inclusion but also that of Joy Mdivo, another nominee. The petition argues that both candidates have clear conflicts of interest and political ties that undermine the IEBC’s constitutionally mandated independence.
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The case was initially filed in Naivasha, where a judge recused herself due to a conflict of interest. It has since been transferred to the Milimani Law Courts, where Justice Chacha Mwita declined to hear it on an urgent basis, setting a hearing date of July 28—after the scheduled swearing-in of the IEBC leadership.
“Kenya’s democracy is at stake,” said Prof. Ogola
. “Financial red flags like a CRB listing should be an automatic disqualifier for such a crucial role.”
Operation Linda Jamii is demanding the nullification of the current shortlist, a fresh and transparent selection process, and an investigation into the selection panel’s conduct. The organization warns that any attempt to capture the IEBC for political gain will erode public trust and could spark instability ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group’s petition is a bold call for electoral accountability at a time when concerns over executive overreach and political patronage continue to mount.
“We must protect the IEBC from being turned into a playground for regime loyalists,” Ogola emphasized.
