A total of 511 Kenyans applied for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s CEO job but only five have been shortlisted for the job.

The current acting CEO Hussein Marjan is among the five who have been shortlisted by the electoral commission to replace former CEO Ezra Chiloba who was removed from the position in 2018.

Others who have also been shortlisted for the top job include; Electoral and Governance Expert Zephaniah Aura, Mombasa County IEBC boss Nancy Kariuki, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Director (KICDD) Joel Mabonga and George Michugu.

In a statement issued on Monday, February 28, IEBC said that the shortlisted candidates will appear before it for interviews next week.

“The five are scheduled to appear before the commission for interviews on Tuesday next week,” IEBC said.

The interviews come at a time when the electoral commission is working round the clock to fill up the position as soon as possible before it holds the August general elections.

The process to find the IEBC’s new CEO has previously faced some challenges after the court once stopped the recruitment process following a petition filed by Chama cha Mwakili.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court stopped the Commission from interviewing 10 candidates who had been shortlisted for the job, on grounds that the process was unconstitutional and marred by conflicts of interest.

Following the stoppage, the court ordered IEBC to start the recruitment process afresh.

“In conclusion, judgment is hereby entered for the petitioner (Chama Cha Mawakili) against the respondent (IEBC) for a declaration that the recruitment process of the secretary to the commission or CEO be commenced afresh by IEBC and in strict compliance with applicable law,” Justice Byram Ongaya ruled.