IEBC gazettes 2027 election period, unveils key timelines for aspirants and campaigns

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has formally gazetted the commencement of the election period for the August 10, 2027 polls, setting out a detailed roadmap governing voter registration, political party activities, candidate nominations, campaigns, election offences and preparations for the polls.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said the commission had published Kenya Gazette Notice No. 13497 on Thursday, August 20, 2026, formally bringing into force the Electoral Code of Conduct and the Election Offences Act in preparation for the 2027 General Election.

The gazettement marks a significant milestone in the electoral calendar, effectively placing political parties, prospective candidates and other election stakeholders under the legal framework governing the conduct of the election.

Ethekon said the commission was committed to conducting the election in accordance with the law and guided by the principles of independence, accountability, transparency and professionalism.

“The foundation of a credible election is a clean, accurate and verifiable register of voters,” Ethekon said, as he outlined the commission's preparations for the election.

The IEBC boss said Continuous Voter Registration, which began on September 29, 2025, remains ongoing, allowing eligible Kenyans to register as voters, transfer their registration and update their particulars.

He said the commission projects that the 2027 register will contain approximately 28.5 million voters, compared to the 22.1 million registered voters recorded for the 2022 General Election.

As of August 20, 2026, the commission said 2,936,516 Kenyans had registered as voters.

The IEBC said it is also expanding voter registration for Kenyans living outside the country from 12 to 26 countries, describing the move as part of efforts to advance the constitutional right of eligible citizens in the diaspora to participate in elections.

“Through the use of biometric technology for voter registration and voter verification, we are strengthening the integrity of the register of voters by enabling voters to inspect and verify their biometric data ahead of Election Day. The process also facilitates the removal of deceased persons and double registration,” Ethekon noted.

“Further, the register of voters will be subjected to a professional independent audit firm that will undertake a forensic audit and certify it for use in the 2027 General Election.”

Ethekon said the commission was also engaging government agencies, political parties, the media, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, development partners and members of the public as part of a broader effort to prepare for the election.

He said the IEBC was working to strengthen coordination between security and justice-sector agencies to ensure a peaceful and secure electoral environment, while improving the capacity of election officials and enforcement of electoral laws.

The commission, however, stressed that the various dates on the electoral calendar are legally binding and must be adhered to by all stakeholders.

“Adherence to the set timelines is non-negotiable. These are not mere guidelines, but legally binding requirements essential to the orderly and credible conduct of the electoral process,” Ethekon said.

The IEBC reaffirmed that the next General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, August 10, 2027, when Kenyans will elect the President, Members of the National Assembly, Senators, Governors, County Woman Representatives and Members of County Assemblies.

The commission also addressed the ongoing legal debate surrounding the constitutional timing of the next General Election.

“From the outset, the Commission notes the recent judgment in Dr. Owiso Owiso, Khelef Khalifa and Ashioya Biko v Attorney General & Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Malindi High Court Petition No. HCCHRPET/023/2025, where Hon. Justice Thande considered the constitutional timing of the next General Election. In interpreting Article 136(2)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the Court held that the fifth year following the General Election held on 9th August 2022 commenced on 9th August 2026; consequently, determining that the presidential election was constitutionally due on Tuesday, 11th August 2026,” Ethekon said.

“The Court suspended its decision until the next General Election scheduled for 10th August 2027. Accordingly, the matter remains subject to the applicable appellate and constitutional processes and the Commission continues to discharge its mandate and prepare for the 2027 General Election.”

He further added: “The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, 10th August 2027. This is the day when Kenyans will go to the polls to elect their leaders.”

The electoral commission has also set a series of deadlines for public officers seeking to contest in the election.

Any public officer intending to vie for an elective position must resign from public office by Wednesday, February 10, 2027, exactly six months before Election Day.

Political parties have been given until October 15, 2026 to submit the names of their authorised persons and specimen signatures to the IEBC.

By October 30, 2026, parties must have their nomination rules certified by the Registrar of Political Parties, and the certified rules must be submitted to the Commission by November 6, 2026.

Political parties will then be required to submit their membership lists to the IEBC by Tuesday, March 16, 2027.

On the same date, parties must submit the names of candidates seeking to contest their internal party primaries, together with the dates and venues of the primaries.

All party primaries and any resulting intra-party disputes must be concluded and resolved by Saturday, May 8, 2027.

Independent candidates will also be required to comply with the May 8 deadline, with the law requiring them to demonstrate that they are not members of any registered political party and submit their names and symbols to the IEBC by that date.

Presidential aspirants will face an additional requirement, with each required to submit to the commission by May 24, 2027 a list containing the names, signatures and national identity card or valid passport numbers of at least 2,000 registered voters in a majority of Kenya's counties.

The candidate registration exercise will then run from May 29 to June 11, 2027, with the exact dates varying according to the elective position.

Presidential candidates will be registered between May 29 and June 11, while National Assembly candidates will undergo registration between May 29 and June 1.

Senatorial candidates will be registered between May 29 and June 2, Governors between June 3 and June 6, County Assembly Ward candidates between June 2 and June 11, and County Woman Representative candidates between June 7 and June 11.

The IEBC said it will register candidates who meet the legal requirements and are eligible and qualified to contest.

Candidates and parties will also have a tightly defined window within which to challenge nomination decisions. Any dispute arising from the nomination process must be lodged within 24 hours of its occurrence and in any event not later than June 12, 2027.

The commission has set June 23, 2027 as the deadline for resolving the nomination disputes.

The IEBC has also drawn a clear line between political activity and the legally prescribed campaign period, warning aspirants and political parties against premature campaigning.

Campaigning for the 2027 election will only begin upon registration of a candidate by the commission and, in any event, not before May 29, 2027.

The IEBC firmly noted that the campaign period will close on August 7, 2027, exactly 48 hours before Election Day.

“Any campaigning outside this prescribed period is unlawful. This includes the display of campaign posters, caravans, billboards and other forms of campaigning,” Ethekon announced.

“Political parties, candidates and their supporters are therefore urged to adhere to the law. The Commission will take appropriate action against violations of the electoral laws and regulations.”

The gazettement of the Electoral Code of Conduct also means political parties, candidates, agents and other participants are now formally subject to its provisions.

The Code, contained in the Second Schedule to the Elections Act, 2011, establishes standards of conduct for participants in the electoral process and empowers the commission to impose sanctions for violations.

The sanctions include formal warnings, fines, restrictions or prohibitions on the use of public media allocated for electoral purposes, and bans on public meetings, demonstrations or marches.

The commission can also restrict a candidate from entering specified electoral areas for campaign purposes or prohibit and restrict the erection of posters, banners and distribution of campaign materials.

For persistent or serious violations, the consequences can be more severe. The IEBC said continued non-compliance could result in a participant being prohibited from participating in an ongoing or future election.

In cases involving violence, intimidation or gross and systematic violations, the commission may move to the High Court seeking appropriate orders, including cancellation of the offending candidate or party's right to participate in the next election.

The Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee will be fully operational during the campaign period to deal with breaches of the Code.

The commission also reminded all persons bound by the Code that they are prohibited from campaigning in places of worship or during burial ceremonies throughout the election period.

The IEBC said violations will attract the full sanctions provided for under the law.

Alongside the Code of Conduct, the Election Offences Act, 2016 has now come into force for the election period.

The law criminalises conduct that undermines the integrity and credibility of elections, including bribery, violence, intimidation, multiple voting and interference with electoral processes.

The commission called on the National Police Service (NPS) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to enforce the law, while urging all stakeholders to comply with its provisions.

“The commission has noted the unauthorized use of its logo on campaign materials. Such use is irregular and unlawful and may falsely imply Commission endorsement, thereby infringing on its independence, impartiality and non-partisan status,” noted Ethekon.

“Aspirants and political actors are directed to cease such use and remove the offending materials within five (5) days, failing which appropriate action will be taken.”

At the same time, the IEBC said it had undertaken a review of the legal framework governing elections and developed proposed amendments intended to strengthen the conduct and management of the electoral process.

The proposals submitted to Parliament include the Elections Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposed amendments to the Election Offences Act and proposals to amend the County Governments Act.

The commission has also prepared draft amendments to the Elections (General) Regulations, the Elections (Voter Registration) Regulations, the Elections (Voter Education) Regulations, the Elections (Party List and Party Primaries) Regulations and the Elections (Technology) Regulations.

It has further prepared revised Rules of Procedure for Settlement of Disputes.

The commission said it gazetted the Election Campaign Financing Regulations 2026 and the contribution and spending limits for the 2027 General Election on August 7, 2026.

The limits are intended to promote a level playing field and prevent financial resources from unduly influencing political participation or competition.

Political parties, candidates, campaign teams, donors and other regulated persons will be required to comply with the rules governing contributions, expenditure, record-keeping, disclosure, reporting and accountability.

The IEBC said the key compliance timelines are contained in Gazette Notice No. 13503, published on August 20, 2026.

On its own preparedness, the commission said it had begun filling vacant positions ahead of the election.

In August, it declared and advertised positions for the Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer as well as seven director-level positions.

The IEBC said it had competitively promoted staff from lower to senior cadres and would continue filling other vacancies competitively to ensure it has adequate staffing ahead of August 10, 2027.

“The Commission, with the provision of General Election budget in the current financial year 2026-2027, is in the process of procuring General Election materials. Currently, the procurement process of election technology and ballot papers has been temporarily halted following a notification of request for review filed at the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board,” Ethekon said.

“The procurement of several other strategic and non-strategic materials is on course and expected to be concluded in good time for the General Election.”

With the election period now formally underway, Ethekon appealed to political actors and their supporters to exercise restraint and keep political competition within the law.

He acknowledged that differences in political opinion are an essential part of democracy but warned against allowing political competition to degenerate into violence, division and misinformation.

“Let us choose peace over violence, unity over division and issues over personalities,” Ethekon said.

He also urged Kenyans to resist spreading misinformation, inciting hatred or demonising political opponents, saying the 2027 election should provide another opportunity for the country to demonstrate the maturity and resilience of its democratic institutions.

The IEBC has urged Kenyans who are eligible to vote to register and verify their voter details, reject misinformation and exercise their democratic rights peacefully and responsibly.