Ksh.6.1B for president, Ksh.181M for Nairobi City: Inside IEBC's 2027 campaign spending limits

As election preparedness begins to gain momentum, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has gazetted the Election Campaign Financing Act that will guide fundraising and expenditure of campaign funds.

Gazetted on August 7, 2026, the Act outlines the limits that candidates in all elective posts will maintain in the 2027 general election period.

The Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026 set the expenditure period for campaign funds to a period beginning at least six months before the date of the general election and ending on the fourteenth day following the end of the general election.

During this period, a presidential candidate will be required to spend up to Ksh.6,112,543,133. This amount can be spent on items and activities authorized by the IEBC.

These include expenditure for a venue where campaigns may be undertaken, publicity material for campaigns and advertising for the campaigns. The presidential candidate may also spend the amount on paying campaign personnel, transportation in respect of campaign activities or other justifiable expenses including communication, nomination fees, security, accommodation and administrative costs.

The IEBC has also set political parties' spending limits at Ksh. 24,450,172,531.

On the other hand, the IEBC has set out spending limits for candidates in other electoral positions, including Governor, Member of the National Assembly, Senate, County Woman Representative and Member of County Assembly.

Here, the commission has set up an equal spending limit for candidates in all county positions. However, this limit varies depending on the county population and the physical coverage by square kilometres.

Here, Nairobi County has been allocated the highest campaign spending limit of Ksh. 181,312,885. This means a candidate contesting for Governor, Senator or Woman representative position in Nairobi City will be limited to a Ksh.181.3 million expenditure.

The second largest expenditure for county elections goes to Turkana County, where candidates will be required to spend up to Ksh.142,072,389. This is followed by Marsabit County at Ksh.127,022,462, Wajir County at Ksh.120,758,077 and Kiambu county at Ksh.110,961,257.

On the other hand, counties that have been allocated the least spending limits include Lamu (Ksh.28,693,735), Tharaka Nithi (Ksh.32,302,217), Elgeyo-Marakwet (Ksh. 35,659,941), Vihiga (Ksh.36,683,540) and Nyamira (Ksh.38,115,302).

The IEBC has also set spending limits for Members of Parliament for individual constituencies.

Here, a candidate contesting for an MP seat in the North Eastern region has been allocated the highest spending limits.

A candidate contesting for an MP seat in North Horr constituency will spend the most – Ksh. 100,424,301. This is followed by Wajir South, where expenditure for MP elections has been capped at Ksh. 73,016,747.

A contestant for an MP seat in Turkana North constituency will spend up to Ksh. 59,745,774, whereas one in Laisamis constituency will spend up to Ksh. 59,449,850 and Ksh. 56,377,048 for Turkana West constituency.

On the other hand, a candidate seeking the MP position in Wundanyi constituency has been given the lowest limit of Ksh.15,430,114. This is followed by Tetu constituency (Ksh.15,773,355), Kengema constituency (Ksh.15,819,299), Mukurweini constituency at Ksh. 16,162,242 and Othaya constituency at Ksh. 16,326,164.

For the Member of County Assembly position, a candidate contesting for an MCA seat at Turbi ward in Marsabit County has the highest spending limit of Ksh.22,095,682.

The spending limit for Maikona ward in Marsabit County follows at Ksh.20,923,284, Lokori/ Kochodin ward in Turkana at Ksh.20,366,726, Cherab Ward in Isiolo at Ksh.19,784,736 and Garen West ward in Tana River at Ksh.19,232,323.

Wards that have been allocated least spending limits include Ziwani/Kariokor ward in Nairobi City (Ksh.3,630,884), Changamwe Ward in Mombasa (Ksh. 3,633,365) Werugha ward in Taita Taveta (Ksh. 3,693,605), Mahoo ward in Taita Taveta (Ksh.3,753,275) and Nairobi Central Ward in Nairobi County (Ksh. 3,770,545).