The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has released comprehensive guidelines for candidates seeking to participate in upcoming by-elections.
According to a communication notice shared on Wednesday, September 3, candidates intending to run as independents must not be affiliated with any political party. They must have resigned from party membership three months before the election date.
The commission has mandated that independent candidates obtain and submit a clearance certificate from the Registrar of Political Parties, confirming their non-membership status in any registered political party for the stipulated minimum period.
The electoral body has outlined specific submission requirements for different levels of representation.
For Senate by-elections, independent candidates must provide a duly filled nomination form and a comprehensive list of supporters, including their signatures and national identity card or passport numbers from 2,000 registered voters in the county.
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Candidates vying for National Assembly positions must submit similar documentation with support from 1,000 registered voters in their respective constituencies.
County Assembly aspirants need backing from 500 registered voters within their ward boundaries.
All candidates must also provide copies of their supporters' identity cards for their nomination packages.
Nomination and registration of all candidates, including those from political parties, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, and Thursday, October 9, 2025.
The nomination papers must be delivered between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM, and candidate interviews must be conducted between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM on the specified dates.
The official campaign period will commence on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, and conclude at 6:00 PM on Monday, November 24, 2025, giving candidates a 28-day window for voter outreach.
Daily campaigning activities are restricted to a 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM timeframe throughout the campaign period.
Independent candidates are expected to submit names of their electoral agents at least 14 days before the by-election date to facilitate proper processing of credentials and training.
The IEBC recently announced the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration activities scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025, as part of its constitutional mandate to ensure eligible citizens can participate in democratic elections.
However, the voter registration exercise will not be conducted in constituencies where by-elections are scheduled, allowing the commission to focus resources on the electoral processes in those areas.
The voter registration drive targets young citizens recently turning 18 and other eligible Kenyans who have not yet registered or need to update their voter information.
Registration services will be available at IEBC constituency offices nationwide, excluding areas with ongoing electoral activities.
