Just hours after President William Ruto received a report from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection committee, Wiper Democratic Movement Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has formally written to him to issue demands before the head of state selects and forwards the names of the successful candidates to the National Assembly.

Kalonzo, in the letter dated Tuesday, May 6, 2025, has urged strict adherence to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) recommendations on the appointment of the new IEBC chairperson and commissioners.

”We note that today you received the report of the panel charged with the responsibility of recruitment of persons to be considered for the position of chairperson and members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC). The law requires that the Panel shall submit nine names for consideration of the appointment of six commissioners and two names for the appointment of the Chairperson of the commission,” the introductory part of the letter reads.

”You will recall that the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) (hereafter the “committee”) report was established through resolutions by the National and Senate Assemblies on the 19th of August and 29th of August 2023, respectively, and adopted on the 24th of February 2024. The report followed the decision to move the country forward after the post-2022 election conflict through bipartisan talks bringing together the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition. The Committee was mandated to facilitate dialogue and consensus building as well as recommend appropriate constitutional, legal policy and administrative reforms on issues of concern to Kenya,” the letter continues.

Kalonzo emphasises that the process of appointing new IEBC leadership must not be a unilateral exercise by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance or any single party.

In his letter, the former vice president argues that the process must involve comprehensive consultations and concurrence between both the ruling coalition and the opposition.

He warns that any deviation from this framework risks undermining public trust and compromising the impartiality of the electoral body.

”This letter concerns itself with recommendations arising out of the NADCO report; these cover the all-important concerns relating to IEBC reforms and political party discipline. Paragraph 861 of the report provides that in order to build confidence in the IEBC, it was important that the leaders of the two coalitions provide a window of consultations and concurrence, and the recommendation at paragraph 862 is that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition enter into consultation and concurrence before the President exercises the power of appointment of the Chairperson and members of the IEBC,” Kalonzo stated.

Kalonzo on opposition leadership

Kalonzo further asserts that with ODM party leader Raila Odinga now working in cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration, the current opposition is effectively represented by the Wiper Democratic Movement and the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).

As such, he and DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa should be recognised as the legitimate representatives of the opposition in any consultations regarding the IEBC.

”On the promise of the foundation of recommendation 862 as read together with priority issue number C at page 23 of the report, which calls for fidelity to political parties, coalitions and respect for the law on multi-party democracy and further noting that the party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement, the Rt Hon Raila Amollo Odinga, has in writing, formally, and by conduct moved to work with the Kenya Kwanza Administration, forming the ODM/Kenya Kwanza Alliance, the opposition is now represented by the Wiper Democratic Movement and the Democratic Action Party (DAP),” Kalonzo told Ruto.

”Accordingly, in line with the constitutional dictate of consultation and concurrence as well as that of the NADCO report, all of which build on the work done by the people of Kenya following the 2007-2008 post-election violence and the Inter-Parliamentary Political Group (IPPG), the minority party will be represented by the undersigned leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement. Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, EGH, SC, and Hon. Eugene Wamalwa, ECH, Party Leader, DAP Party.”

IEBC selection panel’s exit report

Kalonzo further requested the immediate release of the selection panel’s exit report on the IEBC recruitment process, stating that it will form a critical basis for informed and transparent consultation.

”We call for an exit report by the selection panel interviewing the IEBC Chairperson and members, which will be instrumental in the process of consultations. Ultimately, it will be in the interest of the people of Kenya that we get an IEBC Commission that has the support of both the opposition and ruling party, one that inspires public trust and that has the support of both the opposition and ruling party, and one that inspires public trust and has the independence that is required of it.

”Your Excellency, you will, I have no doubt, acknowledge the importance of this exercise and its centrality in building public confidence in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC). Indeed, any exercise without the opposition, in particular, that will be limited to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance alone or Kenya Kwanza and the party leader of ODM, will be an attempt to establish a partisan IEBC, setting the stage for usurpation of the sovereign will of the people of Kenya exercised at the ballot during the general elections. This will not be acceptable,” Kalonzo stated.

Letter to President @WilliamsRuto on Consultations and Concurrence prior to appointment of @IEBCKenya Chairperson and Members.

Cc: Party Leader @TheODMparty
Party Leader @DAP_Kenya pic.twitter.com/PwBZayy3Ho

— Kalonzo Musyoka (@skmusyoka) May 6, 2025