The Chairman and eight Commissioners of the newly appointed electoral management body, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), took oath of office at the Supreme Court today. They were sworn-in by the Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga, who told them to respect the mandate of the people and avoid mistakes like those by the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya, ECK. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr. Mutula Kilonzo, urged them to uphold and protect the Constitution in their work.
The new team comprise of Mr. Ahmed Issack Hassan (Chairman), Ms. Lilian Bokeeye Mahiri- Zaja, Ms. Muthoni Wangai, Mr. Albert Bwire, Ms. Kule Galma Godana, Mr. Abdullahi Sharawe, Mr. Mohammed Alawi Hassan, Mr. Thomas Letangule and Amb. Yusuf Nzibo.

President Mwai Kibaki has signed the gazette notice for the appointment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Mr. Ahmed Issack Hassan, the former Chairman of IIEC, is now the Chairman of IEBC. Before joining IIEC, Mr. Hassan worked as a member of the defunct Constitutional of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC). He holds a LLB degree from the University of Nairobi and is a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK) and Advocate of the High Court.

Dr Yusuf Abdulrahman Nzibo, a career diplomat who has also been a Commissioner with the IIEC holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Masters degree and is also a PhD holder. He has among others represented Kenya as Ambassador at The Hague and Washington DC.

Engineer Abdulahi Sharawe, a former Permanent Secretary in various Ministries and former Commissioner at the defunct Independent Interim Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) . He is a water engineer with almost four decades of working with the  civil service and a member of Institute of Certified Engineers.

Mohamed Alawi Hussun, a lawyer and a legal officer at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) , holds a LLB and LLM degrees in law and has expertise in Maritime Law. He is a member of (LSK) and advocate of the high court.

A new electoral management body, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is expected to assume office soon. Parliament recently approved the names of the Chairman and eight commissioners. They are: Mr. Ahmed Issack Hassan (Chairman), Ms. Lilian Bokeeye Mahiri- Zaja, Ms. Muthoni Wangai, Mr. Albert Bwire, Ms. Kule Galma Godana, Mr. Abdullahi Sharawe, Mr. Mohammed Alawi Hassan, Mr. Thomas Letangule and Amb. Yusuf Nzibo.

In the expanded mandate, IEBC will oversee the creation of 80 new constituencies. IIEC will present an exit report to the incoming commission. The IEBC commissioner will assume office as they are sworn in and their appointment published in the Kenya Gazette.

Following the two day presentation of nomination exercise by political parties, IIEC has cleared 15 candidates for the Kitutu Masaba  by-election. They are: Walter Nyambati (PNU), Atuti (Kaddu), Timothy Bosire (ODM), Nyambega Mose (Narc Kenya), Shadrack Mose (KNC), Mwancha Okioma (Ford People),Atati Kengere (KSC), Dickson Mokaya (NPP), Zachary Ogongo (Narc) and John Moreka (Dp). Others are Okibo Motari (NVP), Alex  Apoko (VIPA PPK), Francis Manyibe (FPK) and Henry  Obwaya (PPK)
A consultative meeting between aspirants and IIEC aimed at building consensus on how the campaigns will be conducted was held on the 5th of November, 2011. Campaigns will run for 21 days beginning 6th November, 2011.

Nine aspirants were cleared on the 3rd of November, 2011 and one more on the 4th of November, 2011 to contest for the Kitutu Masaba by-election to be held on the 28^thNovember, 2011. But IIEC could not clear nominations from KADDU party since two candidates presented nomination certificates from the party. The matter was referred to the party headquarters. If KADDU resolves the issue, they could present their nominee to IIEC’s returning officer, Mr. Odenge Fredrick Owino today.

Mr. Shadrack Mosee of Kenya National Congress KNC was the first to present his papers today.   Kitutu Masaba parliamentary by-election, which will be conducted along with 10 civic by-elections countrywide, is the 12^th by-election to be conducted by IIEC. The Kitutu Masaba by-election is expected to be the last to be conducted by the interim body which now must pave way for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, IEBC. The candidates are expected to conduct their campaigns for 21 days starting from 6^th – 26^th November, 2011.There are 111 gazetted polling stations in Kitutu Masaba constituency. Recruitment and training of polling clerks is underway.