The Chief Executive Officer of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Marjan Hussein, has resigned after 11 years of service. The move follows consultations with senior commission officials, and the IEBC has confirmed that an interim CEO will be announced soon. It comes amid growing pressure from opposition figures and the public ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Marjan Hussein Marjan, who has served as the IEBC's Chief Executive Officer since April 2015, tendered his resignation letter on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 3, 2026. In his message to staff, he described the decision as a mutual agreement with the commission. "As you may be aware, the Commission and I have mutually agreed on a structured transition in the Office of the Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer," he stated in the letter.
He expressed gratitude to employees for their professionalism during the 2022 general elections and the ensuing transition period. "Since joining the Commission in April 2015, first as Deputy Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer and later as Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, it has been an honour to work with a professional, dedicated, and resilient team committed to the constitutional mandate of the IEBC," he added.
As CEO, Marjan oversaw the commission's daily operations, including election management, human resources administration, and policy implementation. The IEBC confirmed his departure that evening, stating an interim CEO would be announced "in due course".
In its statement, the commission emphasized its commitment to institutional readiness for upcoming polls. "The IEBC Secretariat is very crucial in service delivery on electoral management and it is the intention of the commission that it has to reflect the level of preparedness, passion and commitment to deliver credible, free and fair elections in Kenya," the IEBC said.
The resignation occurs as the IEBC faces increasing pressure from opposition leaders and Kenyans. Days earlier, United Opposition figures visited the commission's offices to raise urgent concerns ahead of the 2027 elections. Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua was particularly vocal in expressing a lack of confidence in Marjan's leadership.
