The clamour to control billions of shillings that will be disbursed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has continued to lure public servants serving in high-flying government jobs to seek influential positions at the helm of the electoral body.

IEBC selection panel on Thursday interviewed Kenya School of Government Mombasa campus Director Rukia Atikiya (pictured), who showed willingness to ditch the job if appointed as a commissioner for the agency.

Not even the confirmation letter, which Atikiya received on Wednesday, a day before she was interviewed, that ratified her position at KSG, could deter her from pursuing the IEBC job.

She has been the acting director of KSG in Mombasa since 2023.

The panel chairman, Nelson Makanda, asked the interviewee: “Having just gotten your confirmation, do you still want to go on with this interview?”

She affirmatively responded: “Yes, chair, because this is a higher calling of representing the public at a higher level, so I would not mind if given the opportunity.”

Interestingly, Atikiya also confirmed they had applied for the commissioner’s position with her husband Abduba Mollu, who were among the interviewees who appeared before the Selection Panel late in March.

Even with the revelation that her husband had already been interviewed for the same position, Atikiya was not willing to let go of the chance.

Mollu told the Panel that he didn’t see it as unethical for him and his wife, if appointed, to work in IEBC despite there being other qualified Kenyans for the job.

“We both felt we could serve Kenya in this role, and we have the requisite experience. Unless we all end up being on the same committee, I don’t see a conflict of interest arising,” Mollu said.

Terming it as a double blessing should they make the cut to IEBC as a couple, the incident pointed to an existing couple rivalry, as Mollu also shared how they have been applying for the same jobs, but only one of them is shortlisted.