Commissioner candidate struggles to name Kapenguria 6 during IEBC interviews

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel has continued interviews for the candidates shortlisted for commissioner positions.

The interview process will run through April 25, 2025, and is being held publicly at the College of Insurance in South C, Nairobi.

Candidates are required to present their original national identification documents, academic certificates, and testimonials as part of the process.

One of the candidates, James Leiro Letangule from Baringo South, appeared before the panel on Wednesday, April 9.

He was asked about the Kapenguria Six and given a brief moment to respond. Despite answering earlier questions confidently, he struggled to name all six, mentioning only the late former president Jomo Kenyatta.

“Name any three Kenyan nationalists who were arrested in 1952 and are usually known as the Kapenguria Six,” a panelist asked.

However, Leiro struggled to list the other members and mistakenly included freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi, who was not part of the group.

Besides Kenyatta, the others included Bildad Kaggia, Kung’u Karumba, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, and Achieng’ Oneko.

They were arrested in 1952, tried at Kapenguria in 1952-53, and later imprisoned in Northern Kenya.

Kenyatta went on to become Kenya’s first president, while the others held significant political roles after their release.

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Leiro, acknowledging his error, expressed appreciation to the panel and promised to review the questions he had failed to answer adequately.

“I appreciate the panel for the questions. They were very engaging. There are some which I answered well and some which I did not but will relook into them later,” he promised.

The 37-year-old candidate holds a PhD in Business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and has extensive experience in the health sector.

He is currently a Manager at the Social Health Authority and has held positions at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and Siana Health Centre in Narok County.

Meanwhile, the IEBC Selection Panel had assured the public that the recruitment process would be fair, transparent, and merit-based, emphasising the importance of selecting commissioners capable of overseeing credible elections in the future.

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