President William Ruto on Monday, January 27, 2024, appointed nine individuals to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel to oversee the nomination of IEBC commissioners.
IEBC has remained without quorum for over two years resulting in political restlessness across various parts of the country.
In a gazette notice, President Ruto appointed Kiome Lindah Gakii, Communication professional Oloo Adams, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Ambassador Koki Muli Grignon Carolene Kituku Tanui Andrew Kipkoech, Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman to be members of the panel.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7A of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, as read with paragraph 1 (2) of the First Schedule to the Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint (the 9-member team) to be Members of the Selection Panel for the Recruitment of nominees for appointment as the Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” the notice read in part.
In this article, WoK dives into the academic and career backgrounds of President Ruto’s appointees.
Carolene Kituku
Carolene Kituku is a constitutional and human rights lawyer passionate about justice and equality. Her interests focus on the advancement and protection of women’s rights, using the law and court systems as a tools for social change to address diverse gender inequalities evident in various laws and practices within the African continent. She is keen on the interplay between governance, democracy, and the rule of law and their implication on holding the state accountable for human rights violations.
She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and holds a Master’s of Law degree from the University of Western Cape in international law with a focus on international criminal law and transitional and transnational criminal justice. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from Moi University and a postgraduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law.
Carolene is in active practice of public law. Over the years, she has gained skills that adequately provide a sound balance between abstract legal knowledge and practical litigator’s reality both substantively and procedurally.
She has also been involved in the research and documentation of human rights abuses when she worked as a researcher at the Kenyan Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (KTJRC), her significant contribution being the writing of the TJRC’s final report on the chapter on Massacres as a form of crime against humanity and a human right violation.
In addition, Carolene served as a law clerk to Justice Isaac Lenaola, judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya, and thereafter, she worked as a law clerk for the Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
Koki Muli Grignon
Amb. Dr. Koki Muli Grignon is a distinguished scholar, diplomat and expert with impeccable credentials, competencies and expertise in electoral law, elections, democracy, governance and human rights.
She holds a PhD in Law (focusing on electoral law, elections management, democracy and governance) from University of Dar-es-Salaam, a Masters in Human Rights from University of London, a Bachelor of Laws from University of Nairobi, a Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law and numerous certificates from various professional bodies/institutes including in Elections, Democracy and Governance, Management, Mediation, Conciliation, Compliance and Senior Leadership.
Fatuma Saman
Fatuma holds a B/Ed in history, philosophy, and religion and an executive master’s in Education policy and leadership. She is an educator with expertise in strategy and policy and has a background in women’s rights advocacy and security.
Fatuma was the founding principal of Nairobi Muslim Academy, an institution that was set up in 1995 to provide access to education for Muslim children in Nairobi and particularly girls from Northern Kenyan and coastal regions.
She served at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) as a commissioner, where she chaired the committee on the inspections, monitoring police operations, and research committees.
Fatuma represented Muslim women in the National Constitutional Conference in the technical committee on the Bill of Rights.
She also served on the task force on devolved government that created the laws for managing the county government and ensured in these processes women’s rights and gender equality were mainstreamed. She recently served at the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) and the IEBC recruitment panel.
Fatuma served on the national education board among many other government initiatives. She was a consultant with DAI and is currently a consultant with Adam Smith International in Somalia.
She is among the eminent women of Kenya who ran a situation room during the last elections under IRCK.
Fatuma is an executive member and head of the women’s league of the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF).
Kiome Lindah Gakii
The former acting Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President was former Agriculture & Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi’s running mate during the 2022 general election where the latter sought the Meru County gubernatorial seat.
Gakii is an experienced counsel who has served on different boards of institutions in Meru County, including Kaaga Girls, Meru Polytechnic, and Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, among others.
She is the immediate former LSK chair, Mt Kenya Branch.
Adams Oloo
Professor Adams Oloo is a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Nairobi (UoN). He is also a member of Carnegie’s Civic Research Network.
The renowned political scientist has been a strategic member of ODM Leader Raila Odinga’s campaign machinery and a close confidant of the former premier for decades.
He also served on the National Dialogue Committee’s technical team and was part of the task force constituted by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to craft the failed Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Nelson Makanda
Dr. Makanda is the General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK). He is the former Deputy General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK). He is an ordained pastor and previously worked as an associate pastor at Nairobi Baptist Church.
He has vast experience in peace and conflict resolution, theology, healthcare enterprise, resource mobilization, and leadership. Nelson has a passionate commitment to community transformation through the church as well as to ethical governance and leadership for the public and common good.
Dr. Makanda holds a PhD (Biblical Studies) from Africa International University and is a contributing writer Seek Peace: Enhancing Peace building in Church and Community. Developed for Hope For Kenya Forum through ALARM and World Relief, 2009 and Recovering the Beauty and Blessing of Ethnic Diversity, AIU & ALARM: 2010.
He has served previously on other boards and is a Founding Trustee, Africa Rural Trainers (ART-Trust), a Christian Trust for equipping rural pastors with leadership, pastoral, biblical skills and resource development for effective ministry.
He is married to Caroline Makanda and blessed with four children.
James Evans Misati
Misati is the current chair of the Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC).
Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore
Bore is a member of PPLC and an executive director in the ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Tanui Andrew Kipkoech
Kipkoech is a seasoned legal counsel and the Managing Partner at law firm, Kipkoech Law LLP.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Kampala International University and a Diploma of Law from the Kenya School of Law (KSL).
