Petition challenging Oloo’s appointment to IEBC panel set for October

The High Court will, in October, deliver ruling on a petition contesting the appointment of Professor Adams Oloo to the IEBC Selection Panel.

High Court Judge Chacha Mwita in Friday's proceedings heard submissions from Prof. Oloo, represented by his lawyer, who maintained that the case was baseless and should be thrown out.

The court was also informed that Oloo had already stepped down from his previous role as President William Ruto’s advisor and that the petitioner had not presented adequate evidence to substantiate their claims.

However, Senior Counsel Apollo Mboya, the petitioner, insisted that Prof. Oloo’s appointment should be nullified, arguing that it posed a conflict of interest.

"There's conflict of interest that he's serving two positions at the presidency as a member of selection panel representing the legislature," Mboya was quoted by Citizen Digital saying.

Since his swearing-in on January 27 alongside Kiome Lindah Gakii, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Amb. Koki Muli Grignon, and Carolene Kituku, Prof. Oloo has consistently dismissed calls for his resignation from the IEBC Selection Panel.

He maintains that he had already stepped down from his role as President William Ruto’s advisor.

While defending his position. Prof. Oloo referenced his two appointments as an advisor and a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors.

He was later nominated by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to serve on the selection panel responsible for recruiting nominees for the positions of chairperson and members of the IEBC.

In a letter dated February 11, 2025, Oloo stated that he had consulted the head of state after his name was submitted for official gazettement as part of the IEBC selection panel.

Following this consultation, he resigned from his advisory role, he argued.