Beautiful IEBC nominee: MP tells JLAC members 'my wives are watching'
Ms Fahima Araphat Abdallah (left), who is one of the six(6) approved nominees to serve as IEBC Commissioners. Photo/Parliament of Kenya
Kenya's Parliament on Tuesday approved the appointment of Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), along with six(6) commissioners, during a session that featured both serious debate and unexpected moments of humour.
The vetting of the seven(7) nominees was conducted on Saturday, May 31, 2025, by the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC). Committee Chair George Murugara said all nominees met the constitutional and ethical thresholds for appointment.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Article 252(b) of the Constitution, the committee approves the appointment of Erastus Edung Ethekon as Chairperson, and Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah as members of the IEBC,” Mr Murugara told the House.
The debate briefly took a humorous turn when Mr Murugara, while defending the nomination of Fahima Araphat Abdallah,32, from Lamu County, joked that MP Farah Maalim might wish to comment more on the youthful nominee.
Rising on a point of order, Mr Maalim objected: “Honourable Chair is casting aspersions on me. He doesn’t know that my wives are watching this now. It will land me in trouble when I get home!”
To which Speaker Moses Wetang’ula replied, “Is he saying you have roving eyes?”
Mr Murugara followed up:
“Honourable Farah, you correctly put it--you have wives. The wives are watching.”
The banter continued as Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo weighed in: “Fahima ticks three(3) boxes--minority, youth, and gender. One of us even asked if she was married. Honourable Farah should not worry. His religion allows up to four(4) wives. And even if he’s at four(4), he can always say ‘talaq, talaq, talaq’.”
An amused Maalim responded: “Mr. Speaker, it seems there’s a conspiracy against me.”
Minority Leader Junet Mohammed jumped in to defend Maalim:
“Mr Speaker, I want to come to the aid of Honourable Farah. You know he is the ‘Akuku Danger of Northern Kenya’.”
But Mombasa MP Zamzam Mohammed brought the room back to order with a powerful Swahili interjection: “Mheshimiwa Spika, huyu ni mtoto wetu. Mrembo sana lakini hajakuja hapa kwa masuala ya ndoa. Amekuja kuchapa kazi. Ni mwanamke. Na wanawake wakionekana sehemu, isionekane ndoa tu. Wapewe nafasi ya kujenga taifa.”
Meet the new IEBC Team
Here is a brief profile of the seven(7) approved commissioners:
- Erastus Edung Ethekon – Chairperson
A respected legal and governance expert with a strong background in public service and institutional reform.
- Ann Njeri Nderitu – Commissioner
Former Registrar of Political Parties, known for her integrity and deep understanding of Kenya’s multiparty democracy.
- Moses Alutalala Mukhwana – Commissioner
Legal expert and election consultant, with regional experience in electoral law.
- Mary Karen Sorobit – Commissioner
A civic educator and women’s rights advocate with grassroots mobilization experience.
- Hassan Noor Hassan – Commissioner
Former Principal Secretary with expertise in public administration and policy development.
- Prof Francis Odhiambo Aduol – Commissioner
Academic and former Vice-Chancellor of the Technical University of Kenya.
- Fahima Araphat Abdallah – Commissioner
A youthful accountant and project management expert from Lamu County, bringing representation for women, youths, and minority communities.
The approved names will be forwarded to President William Ruto for formal appointment and gazettement. Once sworn in, the commissioners will begin immediate preparations for upcoming electoral processes, including by-elections and boundary reviews.
