Ahmed Issack Hassan is the man to announce the fourth president of Kenya
Ahmed Issack Hassan-Chairman
All eyes will be on this man who chairs the crucial Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Mr Hassan also chaired the defunct Interim Independent Electoral Commission that delivered the 2010 referendum.
He will be the one who will make the official announcement on the presidential election results at the Bomas of Kenya and sign the winner’s certificate. The IEBC boss is in the overall responsible for the conduct of the IEBC staff in handling this election.
He has been criticised for the commissions’ failure to fully enforce the Elections Act and Political Parties Act in the January political parties primaries. He is a law graduate of University of Nairobi. He has been practising law in Nairobi since 1995 and was a commissioner of the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission.
Mrs Lillian B. Mahiri-Zaja-Vice Chairman
Ms Zaja is among the new commissioners recruited when the defunct IIEC was collapsed and later appointed the vice-chairperson of the commission. She is the second in command at the commission and is expected to work hand in hand with the chairman throughout the electoral process.
She holds a master of laws degree from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, and a bachelor of law degree from the University of Nairobi. She represents Nyanza Province in the commission.
Mr Yusuf Nzibo-Commissioner
He is the only former IIEC commissioner apart from Mr Hassan to have survived to join the IEBC and is credited with ensuring institutional memory in the operations of the new commission.
Mr Nzibo was in charge of diaspora voter registration programme that collapsed at the last minute and has been the face of the commission in many international electoral engagements due to his diplomatic background. Mr Nzibo represents Nairobi Province in the commission.
Mrs Kule Galma Godana Commissioner
A career educationist, Mrs Godona has been in charge of voter education at the commission since she joined the IEBC. But the commission has been blamed for dismal conduct of voter education despite an expected complex voting process in tomorrow’s elections that involves voting six times.
She holds a Bachelor of Education and Counselling (Science) degree from the Kenya Methodist University. She is the face of Eastern Province in the commission.
Mr Thomas Letangule-Commissioner
He is a first time commissioner at the IEBC. Mr Letangule is remembered for leading the team that handled the election dispute resolution process after the political party primaries in January. A lawyer by profession, Mr Letangule is expected to play a major role in leading the legal advisory where necessary in this election. He represents Rift Valley Province in the commission.
Mr Albert Bwire-Commissioner
He joined the commission in 2011 for the first time. He is professionally a banker and represents Western Province in the commission. He holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Accounting, and is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA -UK) and Institute of Financial Services (ACIB London).
Mr Abdulahi Sharawe-Commissioner
Like many other commissioners at the IEBC, Mr Sharawe is among the new entrants who came in after the IIEC was dissolved. He previously served as the chairman of the Public Service Commission for six years and is an engineer.
He holds a Master of Science degree in civil engineering. Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and is a consulting engineer. He is the face of North Eastern Province.
Mrs J. Muthoni Wangai-Commissioner
Ms Wangai joined the IEBC in 2011 and is seen as having replaced Ms Winnie Guchu who represented Central Province at the IIEC. A publisher by profession, her previous service was largely in the private sector. She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration.
Mohamed Alawi Hussun- Commissioner
He is remembered for having teamed up with Commissioner Letangule and the Chairman to design the current electoral laws later enacted by the National Assembly. He represents the Coast region in the commission. He holds an LLB from the University of Nairobi, LLM in International Maritime Law from IMO International Maritime Law Institute and a PGD in Legal Practice.
James Oswago- Chief Executive Officer
He is the Chief Executive Officer of the commissioner and in protocol the second senior most authority after the chairman. He heads the IEBC secretariat and is in charge of the recruitment of close to 300,000 officials who will be overseeing the electoral process on Monday. Mr Oswago, a former military officer, is a lawyer by profession.
Dismas Ongondi-Director of Information Communication Technology
As head of the ICT department, he has been in charge of the technological revolution at the commission. The implementation of the an electronic results transmission technology and biometric voter registration has been under his docket. He is the man Kenyans will be focusing on tomorrow when Presidential results are relayed electronically.
Ms Immaculate Njenge Kassait- Director, Voter Registration and Electoral operations
Ms Kassait joined the IIEC before transiting to the IEBC. She is a lawyer by profession. Her office worked closely with political parties during the nomination process. A breach in constitutional deadlines that saw individuals who defected way after the deadline has put her office on the spot.
Mr Edward Kenga Karisa-Director, Finance
A former staff of the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, Mr Karisa is the man in charge of the commission’s financial management. He has had a say in nearly all the procurements handled by the IEBC. He has over 20 years’ experience in accounting and finance management.
Ms Praxedes C. Tororey-Director Legal and Public Affairs
She was in charge of leading the team that handled close to 200 petitions filed by various aspirants after the primaries and other legal suits targeted at the commission directly. She is among the top level IEBC officials the country will be relying on tomorrow for successful elections. Her department is also in charge of communications.
Source: Daily Nation
