Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of vetoing Charles Nyachae’s nomination as the next chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In an interview with Egesa FM, Gachagua said that the IEBC Selection Panel had forwarded Nyachae and Erastus Edung Ethekon as top candidates to the president, but Ruto rejected Nyachae due to a personal feud with the Kisii community.
"The president does not wish well for the Kisii community. We have received reports that Nyachae was the preferred candidate to be the IEBC chairman. The president rejected him," said Gachagua.Gachagua claimed this animosity dates back to a violent encounter in 2007 between Ruto and the late Simeon Nyachae, Charles Nyachae’s father.
Gachagua further alleged that Ruto favored Ethekon’s nomination because he is closely linked to Josphat Nanok, the President’s Deputy Chief of Staff, suggesting that this connection would allow the State House to exert influence over the IEBC.
He argued that this move is intended to benefit Ruto politically in the 2027 elections.
Following the selection panel’s submission of nominees, President Ruto received the report and has since nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as IEBC chairperson, along with six commissioners, forwarding their names to Parliament for vetting and approval.
Notably, Charles Nyachae and former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi, who were considered frontrunners, were not included in the final nominations.