In a major shake-up at Anniversary Towers, Marjan Hussein Marjan has officially resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), bringing to an end a nearly ten-year stint at the heart of Kenya’s electoral administration.
The commission confirmed Marjan’s exit on the evening of Tuesday, February 3, 2026. His departure closes a chapter that began in April 2015, when he joined the IEBC as Deputy CEO before rising to the top job, overseeing some of the country’s most consequential and contested electoral cycles — including the 2022 General Election and its aftermath.
In a farewell letter circulated to staff, Marjan framed his resignation as part of a “mutually agreed-upon structured transition” within the Office of the Commission Secretary. While he stopped short of giving specific reasons for stepping down, he thanked the IEBC team for their professionalism and resilience, describing it as a privilege to have served the institution during a demanding period.
However, the exit comes against a backdrop of escalating political pressure. The IEBC has recently faced sustained criticism from opposition figures questioning its preparedness for the 2027 General Election. Just days before the resignation, opposition leaders staged a visit to the commission’s headquarters demanding sweeping reforms.
During that meeting, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua delivered a blunt assessment, publicly declaring that he had no confidence in Marjan’s leadership and calling for new management to restore credibility and public trust in the electoral body.
In response to the sudden vacancy, the IEBC sought to calm public anxiety, insisting that institutional stability remains intact. In an official statement, the commission said the secretariat continues to be the backbone of electoral service delivery and must demonstrate readiness, integrity and commitment to conducting free and fair elections.
The IEBC added that an interim CEO will be appointed in due course to oversee day-to-day operations, including human resource management and the implementation of key policies. Attention now turns to who will take over the powerful role — and whether a leadership reset at the top will ease political tensions as the countdown to the 2027 polls gathers pace.
