President Ruto has once again gone against a court order. On June 10, 2025, he named seven people to join the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), even though the court had stopped the process.
He appointed Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new IEBC Chairperson. The other six commissioners he named are Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Mukhwana, Mary Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Aduol, and Fahima Abdallah.
The High Court had stopped Parliament from approving these names until a case challenging the process was heard. Two people had gone to court, claiming the appointments were not made fairly and that some of the nominees did not qualify.
Did Ruto Ignore Court Orders Again in IEBC Appointment?
Still, the president went ahead and published their names officially.
This is not the first time he has ignored court orders.
In January 2024, he told a crowd that he would not follow orders from judges he said were corrupt. He also told a government officer to continue with a Nyandarua road project that the court had stopped.
This made the Chief Justice, Martha Koome, speak out. She warned that ignoring court orders is dangerous and hurts the rule of law. They later met at State House to try and fix things, but the tension seems to be back.
Many agree that IEBC needs new leaders. The commission has not been fully active since 2023. But even if the appointments are needed, they should still follow the law.
Now, the seven appointees are waiting to be sworn in, while the case in court continues.
By Vivian K.