A candidate for the position of chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Lillian Wanjiku, has explained how experience in dispute resolution makes her the ideal choice.

While appearing before the selection panel on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Wanjiku listed down matters she has handled in regard to dispute resolution.

“In 1997, I participated in the electoral process by teaching the locals through a programme by the University of Nairobi. In 2002 and 2007, I served as an election observer, and in 2014, in my professional capacity as an advocate, the people of Makueni County instructed me to file suit against the county government and the county assembly.

“This is because there was a dispute on revenue allocation between the two entities. That was the issue that was escalated to the president for suspension of the county, but we were able to sort it out amicably after directions from the senate,” Wanjiku told the panel.

Wanjiku has also served political parties, where she said she was involved in party nominations and the resolution of the cases that emerged from those exercises.

“In my interaction with the electoral process, I served on the committee for the nomination process in the party primaries for one of the political parties. We were able to conduct that very successfully, and very few cases went to the Political Parties Tribunal.

“I have given legal support to clients in the Political Parties Tribunal and in the mainstream court for political petitions. I have a lot of experience in dispute resolution,” she added.

Interviewed

So far, Abdulqadir Lorot Ramadhan, former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary; Anne Atieno Amadi, former East African Court of Justice judge; Charles Nyachae; and Edward Katama Ngeywa have appeared before the panel led by Nelson Makanda.