Fahima Araphat Abdallah is the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice-Chairperson following her nomination and subsequent appointment as a member of the commission by President William Ruto.
In a statement on Friday, July 11, newly sworn-in IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said that the commission, in its 288th plenary meeting held at the Commission Boardroom, elected Commissioner Fahima as the new IEBC Vice Chairperson.
The other IEBC Commissioners include Hassan Noor Hassan, Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, and Francis Odhiambo Aduol.
Until her nomination and subsequent appointment as a commissioner, Fahima Araphat Abdallah served as a member of the Lamu County Assembly Service Board, a position she has held since 2023.
She has also been a part-time facilitator at the Institute of Corporate Governance and the Africa Institute of Devolution since the same year.
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Fahima Araphat profile
Between 2017 and 2022, Araphat served as the Lamu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Infrastructure, Finance, Trade, Investments, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water.
Prior to that, she worked as the Ward Administrator for Shella Ward from 2014 to 2017.
The new IEBC Vice-Chairperson holds a Master of Arts degree in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi (UoN), which she earned in 2020.
She did her thesis study on ‘project management skills and the implementation of land settlement schemes programs in Kenya; a case of Lamu County’.
Fahima also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting from Kenyatta University (KU).
In addition, she undertook a Project Management Professional course at the Project Management Institute and obtained a Diploma in Investment Advice from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment, both in 2024.
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The Principal Operations Officer at Lamu Port Abdishukri Osman was among leaders from Lamu County who congratulated Fajima for her nomination by President Ruto.
“Congratulations to Fahima Araphat Abdallah on your nomination as a Commissioner of IEBC. You’re ably representing the youth, women and the marginalized communities in Kenya including Lamu County,” said Abdishukri in a post on X.
IEBC Commissioners sworn-in
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung was sworn into office alongside six commissioners to serve a six-year term, at an event held at the Supreme Court Buildings.
The swearing-in ceremony which was presided by Chief Justice Martha Koome paved the way for the seven to formally assume their roles at the electoral body.
It came after President Ruto in two gazette notices dated July 10, 2025, formally regularized the IEBC appointments process following a High Court ruling.
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