Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has come to the defense of newly appointed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, dismissing criticism surrounding his appointment as baseless and politically motivated.

Speaking in Nairobi on Sunday, July 13, 2025, Duale hailed Ethekon’s swearing-in as a turning point for Kenya’s electoral agency and urged Kenyans to focus on the chairperson’s credentials rather than his ethnic background.

“For the first time, a member of a minority community Turkana has been appointed IEBC chair. He is well-qualified and will deliver a credible election in 2027,” Duale stated.

Ethekon officially took office on Friday, July 11, during a swearing-in ceremony at the Supreme Court of Kenya presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

He was joined by six new commissioners: Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Arafat Abdallah.

Duale affirmed that the new commission was legally constituted and now bears the critical task of guiding the country through several upcoming by-elections and laying the groundwork for a credible general election in 2027.

"The constitution has placed this responsibility on him. Now that the IEBC is in place, I have confidence that the next election will be credible,” he said.

Stressing the importance of public trust in electoral processes, the CS called on political leaders and stakeholders to give the new commissioners space to execute their mandate without undue pressure or premature criticism.

With the IEBC now fully reconstituted, its immediate priorities include conducting six parliamentary by-elections, one Senate contest, and 15 ward-level races.

The commission will also audit the voter register and spearhead the procurement of updated electoral technology to replace the KIEMS and BVRS kits.

Duale’s remarks signal the government’s firm backing of the Ethekon-led commission as it embarks on the delicate task of rebuilding confidence in Kenya’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.