IEBC Nominee Erustaus Ethekon Grilled Over Secretive AU Job in South Africa

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chair nominee Erustaus Ethekon faced intense scrutiny over his mysterious job at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) in South Africa.

Appearing before Parliament’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), Ethekon was pushed to explain why a man living and working in Johannesburg should lead Kenya’s electoral commission.

Lawmakers demanded full transparency on his current role, AU ties, and any hidden political affiliations. What followed was a revealing session that unearthed more than Ethekon likely intended.

As the selection panel finalizes its decision, the public must ask: Can someone with deep continental ties and vague political affiliations truly guarantee the independence and integrity of Kenya’s elections? [Photo: Courtesy]

Erustaus Ethekon AU job and its surprising political weight

Ethekon admitted that he currently works as a Senior Advisor to the CEO of the African Union Development Agency, under the NEPAD framework. He focuses on governance, peace, security, and development. This might sound like a diplomatic achievement, but JLAC lawmakers weren’t buying the vagueness.

From the moment he sat before the panel on Saturday, May 31, the mood was tense. West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka led the charge, grilling him on how someone so deeply embedded in African Union affairs could fully commit to managing Kenya’s elections.

“Would you abandon this country if things went wrong under your leadership at IEBC?” Mogaka asked bluntly.

Ethekon shot back, “This is my country and I love it very much. That is why I came back and that is why I want to continue serving it.”

His patriotism sounded sincere, but the committee wasn’t convinced that love alone was enough. Members wanted to know if his international job, complete with high-level access to African political networks, made him a risky candidate—someone more loyal to AU bureaucrats than Kenyan voters.

Further probing revealed that Ethekon’s AU job wasn’t just another diplomatic posting. It links him to continental power structures, with responsibilities that potentially overlap with election security and political stability across Africa.

That raised eyebrows. JLAC members questioned whether he had been strategically positioned by political actors to influence Kenya’s electoral processes from a higher perch.

The concerns weren’t merely speculative. Some insiders believe President William Ruto’s administration, along with former Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok, played a hand in grooming Ethekon for this sensitive role.

Lawmakers question his loyalty and timing

The grilling didn’t stop with his job title. Lawmakers demanded to know why Ethekon—who has spent the last year living in Johannesburg—was suddenly ready to uproot and take up a full-time role back in Kenya.

“Why now?” one member asked.

That’s a question that continues to linger. Ethekon maintained that his decision to return was based on national duty, not political ambition.

“If called upon to serve my country, this is my priority and serving my country will be my pride,” he stated.

But JLAC members weren’t satisfied with vague reassurances. They emphasized that elections in Kenya carry high stakes, and the IEBC Chair must be fully grounded, both physically and emotionally, in the country.

There’s also the issue of dual loyalties. Could his AU job influence decisions at IEBC? Could continental diplomatic ties compromise his independence?

The lack of clear boundaries between his AU work and proposed IEBC duties left many unanswered questions.

Links to Nanok raise further suspicion

Adding fuel to the fire were accusations that Ethekon may be politically connected to Josphat Nanok, a close Ruto ally and former governor of Turkana County.

Ethekon strongly denied these allegations.

“For the record, Honourable Chairman, not even close, not at the clan level, let alone family. We come from different villages and have no relationship whatsoever,” he said.

He admitted to working with Nanok during his time as the County Attorney, but emphasized that their relationship was purely professional.

Still, the suspicions persist. Critics say Ethekon’s nomination is part of a wider plan to place trusted allies of the Ruto regime in strategic national positions. With IEBC expected to oversee hotly contested elections in the coming years, the leadership of the commission will shape the country’s political future.

The nomination process has already been dogged by allegations of manipulation and backroom deals, with Ethekon’s case now adding to the list.

Final Thoughts

Ethekon’s vetting session has left more questions than answers. His AU job in South Africa, while impressive on paper, casts a long shadow over his suitability to lead Kenya’s most sensitive democratic institution. His insistence that he is committed to Kenya is noted, but the political connections, foreign residence, and timing of his return all demand deeper scrutiny.

Only time—and transparency—will tell.