Charles Nyachae: Scandalous History Comes to Haunt Ruto’s Blue-Eyed Boy Favoured for IEBC Chairperson

As Kenya braces for the high-stakes 2027 elections, the selection of the next Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson has taken a contentious turn.

Among the 37 candidates shortlisted by the recruitment panel is Charles Nyachae, a veteran lawyer and former chair of the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC).

With interviews set to conclude by April 25, 2025, and whispers of President William Ruto’s favouritism swirling, Nyachae’s chequered past is raising red flags about his suitability to helm an electoral body promising a “stainless” process.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The IEBC selection panel, reconstituted after legal battles and accusations of Ruto stalling to avert a constitutional crisis, has shortlisted 1,356 candidates for chairperson and commissioner roles.

From these, two names will be presented to the President for the top job, and nine for six commissioner slots.

Yet, Nyachae’s emergence as a frontrunner—allegedly Ruto’s preferred pick—threatens to undermine public trust in an institution tasked with delivering impartiality in one of Kenya’s most consequential polls.

A Politically Tainted Track Record

Nyachae, 67, is no stranger to Kenya’s political elite. The son of the late Simeon Nyachae, a towering figure in Kenyan politics, Charles has repeatedly aligned himself with ruling powers.

In 2017, he ran for Kisii County governor on a Jubilee ticket under Uhuru Kenyatta, only to be rejected by voters.

Undeterred, he switched allegiance to Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in 2022, managing the President’s campaign in Kisii County before losing again to Simba Arati, who garnered 270,928 votes.

This flip-flopping raises a glaring question: can a man so deeply entwined with Ruto’s political machinery be trusted to oversee a fair election in 2027?

Charles Nyachae, while still serving as a Judge in East Africa Court of Justice attends a political function with Ruto in December 2020.

Political insiders whisper that Nyachae’s loyalty has earned him Ruto’s nod, a claim that, if true, casts a shadow over the panel’s promise of merit-based selection.

Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, recently warned the panel against producing “incompetent candidates,” urging them to prioritize “proven records of competence and integrity.”

Nyachae’s resume, however, tells a different story—one of ambition, failure, and unanswered questions.

CIC Tenure: A Legacy of Missed Opportunities?

Nyachae’s most prominent public role came as CIC chair from 2011 to 2016, tasked with implementing the 2010 Constitution.

It was a golden opportunity to cement his legacy, yet critics argue he squandered it.

Chapter 6, meant to enforce leadership integrity and combat corruption, remains a toothless provision under his watch, with systemic graft still plaguing Kenya.

While Nyachae admitted to implementation hurdles in 2015—blaming low public participation and institutional clashes—his detractors say he failed to push for robust legislation, leaving the anti-corruption fight floundering.

Devolution, another cornerstone of the Constitution, also stumbled. Nyachae once declared it “irreversible,” but the lack of clear handover regulations to counties during his tenure contributed to the ongoing devolution crisis.

Was this a systemic failure or a personal one? The jury is out, but for a man eyeing the IEBC chair, such ambiguity is a liability.

EACJ Exit and Family Feuds

Charles Nyachae being sworn in as Judge of the East African Court of Justice in February 2018.

Nyachae’s recent resignation from the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in November 2023 adds another layer of intrigue.

Representing Kenya at the regional court, he stepped down without explanation, just as high-profile cases—like Mike Sonko’s impeachment challenge and Martha Karua’s 2022 election petition—loomed.

Was he dodging the heat, and if so, on whose behalf? For a potential IEBC chair, expected to withstand intense electoral pressure, this abrupt exit raises doubts about his resilience.

Closer to home, Nyachae is locked in an ugly succession battle over his father’s multi-billion-shilling estate, estimated at over Sh2 billion.

Appointed an administrator alongside siblings Angela and Eric, he faces off against stepmother Grace Wamuyu and others, with mediators now stepping in.

This public family feud could distract him from the IEBC’s demanding role—or worse, signal a man more preoccupied with personal gain than public service.

Age and the Pressure Test

At 67, Nyachae’s age is another sticking point. The IEBC chairmanship is a pressure cooker—think 2017’s annulled election or 2022’s razor-thin margins.
Critics question whether he can endure the strain, pointing to his EACJ resignation as a sign he might buckle.

While he could argue experience trumps youth, but with no clear explanation for his judicial exit, the concern lingers: will he quit again when the going gets tough?

Media Silence: A Clean Slate or a Cover-Up?

Curiously, mainstream media has been muted on Nyachae’s scandals, often framing him as a “clean” alternative to candidates like James Oswago and Anne Amadi, whose pasts are tainted by corruption allegations.

This selective spotlight—focusing on his CIC credentials while glossing over his political baggage and family woes—smacks of bias.

Has the press been co-opted to polish his image, as some allege, or is Nyachae simply flying under the radar?

Either way, the lack of scrutiny leaves Kenyans in the dark about a man who could shape their electoral future.

The Bigger Picture

DP WIlliam Ruto makes the collars of East Africa court of justice Judge Charles Nyachae at his Karen residence office in Nairobi on October 14, 2020.

Nyachae’s candidacy isn’t just about one man—it’s a litmus test for the IEBC selection panel’s credibility.

After months of legal wrangling and accusations of Ruto buying time, the panel vowed a transparent process.

Yet, with a politically connected figure like Nyachae in the mix, that promise hangs by a thread.

The 2027 elections will test Kenya’s democracy after a rocky reign by president Ruto who is under constant pressure from the youths leading to widespread protests, and the IEBC chair must be above reproach.

Nyachae’s history—rife with political loyalty, unfulfilled potential, and personal entanglements—suggests he may fall short.

As the April 25 deadline nears, Kenyans deserve answers.

Can Charles Nyachae rise above his past, or will Ruto’s blue-eyed boy drag the IEBC into another quagmire?
For a nation still scarred by electoral mistrust, the stakes are too high to gamble on a tainted legacy.