The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued stern warnings against defacing road signs with campaign materials, threatening hefty fines and possible imprisonment for violators.
In a statement released on Monday, September 8, the authority expressed concern over increasing incidents of road signage vandalism, particularly involving campaign posters in areas scheduled for by-elections.
KeNHA highlighted that road signs have been defaced with various posters, including those of campaigning candidates in constituencies preparing for by-elections.
The authority cautioned that such acts pose serious risks to motorists using affected routes and could lead to accidents and potential loss of lives.
"It has come to the attention of the Authority that road signs have been defaced with posters, including those of campaigning candidates in areas scheduled for by-elections," the statement read. "The public is cautioned against this act as it proves to be destructive to motorists plying the affected routes which could lead to accidents and possible loss of lives."
The authority outlined significant financial and legal consequences for individuals caught defacing road infrastructure. Violators face substantial penalties that could include both monetary fines and custodial sentences.
"If found defacing road furniture, you will be liable to a fine of not less than Ksh85,000 per incident or imprisonment or both," KeNHA warned in the statement.
KeNHA called on all Kenyans to take active roles in protecting road infrastructure and reporting incidents of vandalism to the appropriate authorities. The authority provided multiple channels for reporting such cases.
"As an Authority, we urge all Kenyans to protect road furniture and report any acts of defacing and vandalism to any KeNHA office or the nearest police station," the statement continued. "If you witness any vandalism on the highways, kindly contact us on the KeNHA toll-free line at 0800211244."
The warning comes as various constituencies prepare for upcoming by-elections, with campaign activities expected to intensify in the coming months.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission recently released detailed guidelines for candidates seeking to participate in the electoral processes.
According to a communication issued on September 3, the IEBC has established specific requirements for candidates, particularly those running as independents.
The commission mandates that independent candidates must not maintain affiliations with any political party and must have resigned from party membership at least three months before the election date.
Independent candidates must obtain and submit clearance certificates from the Registrar of Political Parties, confirming their non-membership status in any registered political party for a minimum period.
Additionally, they must submit the names of their electoral agents at least 14 days before the by-election date to allow proper processing of credentials and training.
The official campaign period is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, and will conclude at 6:00 PM on Monday, November 24, 2025, providing candidates with a 28-day window for voter engagement.
Daily campaigning activities will be restricted to hours between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM throughout the entire campaign period.
