Former IEBC commissioner is dead
By Kenneth Mwenda, July 20, 2026Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner Mohamed Abdullahi Sharawe has died, with leaders mourning a career public servant who held senior government positions and contributed to Kenya’s electoral reforms.
His death was announced by Eldas Member of Parliament (MP) Adan Keynan, who paid tribute to Sharawe’s decades of service to the country.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Keynan described Sharawe as a distinguished statesman, engineer and elder whose life was dedicated to public service.
“It is with profound sorrow that I join the nation in mourning the passing of Eng. Mohamed Abdullahi Sharawe, a distinguished statesman, accomplished engineer and an enviable elder whose life was defined by integrity, humility and unwavering commitment to public service,” Keynan said.
The circumstances surrounding Sharawe’s death were not immediately disclosed.
Sharawe’s government service
Mohamed Abdullahi Sharawe served in senior government roles during the administrations of former Presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki.
He was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Roads and Public Works during the 1980s, where he was involved in government efforts to improve infrastructure development.
He later served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Research, Technical Training and Applied Technology, where he helped guide policies aimed at strengthening technical education and industrial growth.
According to Keynan, Sharawe provided leadership in areas that supported Kenya’s development agenda, including infrastructure, technical training and public administration.
“Throughout his illustrious career spanning decades, Eng. Sharawe served the country with exceptional distinction,” Keynan stated.
“His professionalism, diligence and dedication to excellence earned him the admiration and respect of colleagues and citizens alike.”
Role in IEBC and electoral reforms
Sharawe later became part of Kenya’s electoral reform process after serving as a commissioner at the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC).
The IIBRC was established to review electoral boundaries as part of reforms introduced after the disputed 2007 General Election and the subsequent political crisis.
He also served as one of the inaugural commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the constitutional body created to oversee elections and boundary reviews in Kenya.
Keynan said Sharawe’s work at the IIBRC and IEBC contributed to strengthening Kenya’s electoral and constitutional framework.
“As a Commissioner of both the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) and the inaugural Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), he played a pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s electoral and boundary management framework,” he said.
Appointment by Kibaki
Beyond his work in government and electoral institutions, Sharawe continued serving in national leadership roles.
In 2009, President Mwai Kibaki appointed him to chair the Special Presidential Committee on Muslim Concerns.
The committee examined civil, administrative and socio-economic issues affecting Kenya’s Muslim community and made recommendations aimed at promoting inclusion and national cohesion.
Sharawe also served as Chairman of the Public Service Commission, where he focused on strengthening professionalism and integrity in the public sector.
Keynan remembered Sharawe as a leader whose influence extended beyond official positions.
He said the former IEBC commissioner offered guidance to communities, leaders and younger generations through his commitment to ethical leadership and nation-building.
“His legacy reminds us that true leadership is measured not by the offices one occupies, but by the institutions strengthened, the values upheld and the lives touched,” Keynan said.
As tributes continue to come in, Sharawe is being remembered as a veteran Kenyan public servant who spent decades working in government, electoral management and national development.
Keynan sent condolences to Sharawe’s family, friends and former colleagues, praying for comfort during the mourning period.
“May Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings, grant him Jannatul Firdaus and bless his family with strength, comfort and patience during this difficult time,” Keynan said.