Kenya’s High Court on 10 July ruled that President William Ruto’s earlier Gazette Notice appointing Erastus Edung Ethekon as chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and six commissioners was issued in breach of an interim order halting their formalisation. While dismissing the substantive petition against the seven nominees, the three-judge bench quashed the notice and directed the presidency to regularise the appointments. State House re-gazetted the officials late the same day, clearing the way for their installation. On 11 July, Chief Justice Martha Koome administered the oath of office at the Supreme Court in Nairobi, formally inducting Ethekon together with Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol and Fahima Araphat Abdallah. Each will serve a constitutionally mandated six-year term. The swearing-in ends a two-year leadership vacuum at the IEBC, which stalled by-elections and preparations for the 2027 general vote. In his inaugural remarks, Ethekon pledged to deliver “free, fair and credible elections” and called for cooperation from political actors and the public. Koome urged the new team to restore trust in electoral institutions amid growing public scepticism.