By Our Reporter.
The National Liberal Party (NLP) has issued a strongly worded statement criticizing recent remarks by Wiper Party leader Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka and Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) leader Hon. Eugene Wamalwa over the ongoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) appointments.
In the statement released Tuesday, NLP Party Leader Augustus Kyalo Muli termed the two leaders’ calls for political consultations in the IEBC appointment process as “presumptuous” and “a blatant disregard” for Kenya’s legal framework. The party insists that such calls undermine the principles of meritocracy, transparency, and fairness enshrined in the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.
“It is imperative to remind Hon. Musyoka and Hon. Wamalwa, and indeed the entire Kenyan public, that public appointments are not determined through political deals, but through an open and competitive process guided by law,” said Muli.
The NLP further warned that it would seek legal redress if President William Ruto bows to political pressure and makes appointments based on partisan interests rather than qualifications. The party emphasized that Kenya belongs to all its citizens, not select political factions, and that IEBC roles should not be “shared” among political leaders.
“The notion that the President should engage in consultations with specific political leaders to ‘share’ IEBC slots is an affront to the integrity of the process,” Muli added. “Who will speak for the highly qualified Kenyans without political godfathers?”
The NLP underlined the need for the IEBC to be led by impartial professionals with impeccable integrity, warning against a return to politically compromised electoral institutions. The party called on the media to hold leaders accountable and ensure transparency in the appointment process.
“The IEBC is not a political playground,” the statement read. “It is a critical institution that must command the trust and confidence of all Kenyans.” Muli concluded by reaffirming the NLP’s commitment to defending democratic gains and ensuring that public service is guided by integrity—not political patronage.
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