Warning Issued: IEBC Shortlist Threatens Election Credibility
The petitioners claim Nyanchae and Mdivo are incompetent and President Ruto’s regime loyalists.
Operation Linda Jamii has called upon the court to nullify the current unlawful shortlisting of Charles Nyachae and Joy Mdivo in the ongoing nominations of chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC) led by Nelson Makanda.
The petiton filed before the Milimani High Court is demanding the immediate nullification of the current shortlist bearing the names of Nyanchae and Mdivo for being incompetent and President Ruto’s regime loyalists. They want a fresh, transparent, and lawful selection process that ensures only qualified independent individuals are shortlisted.
It was filed under a certificate of urgency before Justice Chacha Mwita who disregarded the urgency and scheduled the matter to proceed for hearing on July 28, 2025, which will be overtaken by the event.
Being petitioners of the application, Professor Fred Ogola and Precious Hawii Co-Convener of the J-25 Movement and the New Generation Aspirants, Mwazo Mpya claims that the duo do not qualify to be commissioners of the IEBC.
Addressing the media at the Milimani law courts today, Ogola said Nyachae is a perennial government appointee and recycled bureaucrat whom they believe will serve the broad-based government, and not the people of Kenya,
“Nyachae is the sitting chairperson of the Council of the Kenya School of Government. How can a state officer serve in an institution independent of government control?” Ogola questioned.
He added that Nyachae cannot be entrusted with Ksh 66 billion IEBC considering he is listed in CRB for loan default despite coming from a wealthy family.
Further, he is involved in family financial feuds which are in court, and extramarital affairs that have been sued for about four child support.
On the other hand, Mdivo is the current Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Kenya Power and Lighting Company which is a state controlling entity. “This is a direct violation of the constitution requirement for an independent IEBC.” The document read in part.
She is also a Chairperson of the Electoral Disputes Resolutions Committee of the UDA party. Ogola points out this as a blatant conflict of interest saying a party insider cannot be trusted to run elections fairly.
They were alerting Kenyans that election rigging does not start on voting day but from the unlawful capture of the IEBC whereby Ruto’s government is laying the groundwork for the 2027 election, in which the outcome is controlled long before votes are cast.
They Notified Dr. Makanda-led panel that it will be to blame if the 2027 general elections turn out to be flawed, actions which can plunge the country into a post-election crisis.
