A hybrid approach employing both the genetic algorithm and the newton-raphson method is proposed for the electrical impedance computed tomography (EICT) image reconstruction. Computational experiments based on the new concept have shown promising results for several noise-free models. In particular, the resistance distribution of the tested models having resistivity ratio up to 100:1 has been reconstructed sucessfully. Using the proposed mehtod, it is also possible to get the reconstruction by the conventional iterative approaches be difficult to vonverge to a robust solution. If the compution power is enhanced further, the proposed method is expected to stimulate the practical applications of the EICT technology in the near future.