The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that Kenya’s next General Election is set to be held on Tuesday, August 10, 2027.
Speaking on Wednesday, June 24, during the launch of the Election Operation Plan, 2025-2027, IEBC directed all public officers seeking to vie for any elective seat to resign by February 9, 2027.
“A public officer who intends to contest in the General Election shall resign from public office within six months before the date of the election, being on or before Tuesday, February 9, 2027,” the commission stated.
The Electoral Commission also announced March 16, 2027, as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership lists to the Commission.
Additionally, political parties intending to field candidates in the elections will also be required to submit the names of individuals contesting in party primaries, as well as the dates and venues of the primaries, by the same date.
IEBC further directed political parties to conclude their primaries and resolve all internal disputes by May 9, 2027.
“A political party intending to present a candidate in the General Election shall conduct its primaries and resolve intra-party disputes on or before Sunday, May 9, 2027,” the commission added.
For independent candidates, IEBC revealed that those seeking to run outside political parties must cease being members of any registered political party by May 9, 2027.
“Candidates intending to participate in the election as independent candidates shall not be members of any registered political party by Sunday, May 9, 2027, being at least three months before the election,” the Commission further said.
Furthermore, the nomination of political party and independent candidates will take place between May 29 and June 11, 2027, with candidates required to submit their nomination papers to the Commission.
The commission also said that disputes arising from nominations must be filed by June 12, 2027, and will be determined within ten days of being lodged.
In addition, the official campaign period for the 2027 General Election will begin on May 29, 2027, and end on August 7, 2027, exactly 48 hours before polling day.
