IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan Steps Down Amid Opposition Pressure.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Marjan Hussein Marjan, has stepped down from his role.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday evening, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon announced that the departure came about through a mutual agreement between Marjan and the Commission to end his service contract. This concludes Marjan's time at the IEBC and initiates the recruitment process for a new CEO and Commission Secretary. An acting CEO will be named soon to ensure smooth operations in the interim.
Ethekon highlighted that this leadership change underscores the IEBC's dedication to a smooth handover and uninterrupted execution of its constitutional duties, such as organizing elections and handling constituency boundary reviews. He described the Secretariat reforms as essential steps toward bolstering institutional readiness, accountability, efficiency, transparency, and overall performance in delivering credible polls for Kenyans.
The Chairperson further thanked Marjan for his committed service since taking up the position in March 2022. He particularly praised Marjan's steady leadership during the challenging period when the Commission lacked a full complement of commissioners, a situation that persisted until July 2025.
The resignation arrives amid growing calls from opposition leaders for Marjan to leave before the upcoming General Election. Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka had strongly criticized Marjan, accusing him of rushing to extend the contract with Smartmatic—the firm that provided the electronic voting equipment for the 2022 polls. Musyoka cautioned that Marjan's continued presence could jeopardize the fairness and credibility of the next elections.
