Ambassador Koki Muli's appointment to the nine-member selection panel for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) marks a major shift for the renowned electoral expert from aspiring to be a commissioner to now deciding who becomes one.
On three different occasions, she failed in her bid to join the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as a commissioner.
This time, however, she would be on the other side of the table—alongside eight other members of the body—to select the country's election commissioners.
In a notice published in the Kenya Gazette on January 27, President William Ruto named Amb Muli, Kiome Lindah Gakii, Adams Oloo, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Carolene Kituku, Tanui Andrew Kipkoech, Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman as members of the panel.
The selection panel has 90 days to recruit the commissioners, who are expected to prepare for the country's general elections scheduled for August 2027.
Some of her previous attempts have come this close and yet this far after making it to the shortlist of three to be submitted to the president for subsequent appointment.
In 2011, Ms Muli lost out in the race to become Kenya's first electoral chief under the 2010 constitution when Ahmed Issack Hassan took up the post.
Their names were forwarded to then President Mwai Kibaki and then Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the grand coalition government by the recruitment panel then chaired by Dr Ekuru Aukot.
In early 2009, she was one of eight lawyers interviewed for the same position by the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution.
Cecil Miller Jr was selected, only to be rejected by Parliament.
In 2021, Ms Muli was again interviewed for the position of IEBC commissioner.
She was among 36 people shortlisted to replace commissioners Roselyne Akombe, Connie Nkatha Maina, Paul Kurgat, and Margaret Mwachanya, who resigned after the 2017 elections.
Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang'aya, and Irene Masit were appointed instead. The four popularly referred to as Cherera Four, left the commission after a dispute over the results of the 2022 presidential election.
Ms Muli is the only African woman qualified to train and accredit students in electoral processes under the Bridge (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) curriculum.
Her achievements were recognised by the Kriegler Commission, which investigated the post-election violence that followed the disputed 2007 elections.
Nation. Africa contacted Amb Muli on Tuesday to ask what she thought of her appointment to the selection, having applied to be a commissioner in the past.
But she declined to comment, saying she could not give an interview until she had completed her new assignment.
"I will be able to speak after 90 days," she said.
Her appointment to the panel came after a protracted court battle pitting her against Dr Augustus Kyalo Muli of the National Liberal Party (NLP).
Under the Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC), the majority coalition, the minority coalition, and the non-parliamentary parties were to select one nominee each.
Mr Evans Misati was chosen to represent the non-parliamentary parties, while Mr Nicodemus Bore was chosen to represent the majority party.
Dr. Muli of the NLP was chosen to represent the minority coalition, defeating Amb Muli of the Wiper party in an election conducted by the IEBC.
However, the opposition coalition sought to replace Dr Muli with Amb Muli, triggering the court battle.
On Friday, Justice Dorah Chepkwony dismissed a petition filed by Mr Boniface Njogu, who had challenged the list on the grounds of ethnicity and failure to include people with disabilities on the panel.
Dr Muli's case is still pending at the Court of Appeal, although no order has been made to stop the formal appointment of the selection panel.
Dr Muli approached the Court of Appeal late last year after High Court judge Janet Mulwa ruled that he was ineligible for appointment because his party was not parliamentary and did not have representation in Parliament.
