The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set out a series of requirements and deadlines that political parties must meet ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a Gazette notice dated Thursday, August 20, the commission outlined timelines covering the submission of authorised party officials, certification of nomination rules, party membership lists, party primaries and the submission of nominated candidates.
Under the requirements, political parties intending to participate in the General Election must submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorised persons to IEBC by Thursday, October 15, 2026.
The commission also requires parties to have their nomination rules certified by the Registrar of Political Parties by Friday, October 30, 2026, and submit the certified rules to IEBC by Friday, November 6, 2026.
Party membership lists will also be subject to deadlines.
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IEBC states that political parties must have their membership lists certified by the Registrar of Political Parties by Tuesday, March 23, 2027, and submit the certified lists to the Commission by Monday, April 12, 2027.
Parties intending to field candidates through their primaries will also be required to submit the names of those contesting the primaries, together with the dates and venues of the primaries, by Thursday, April 8, 2027.
"Political parties intending to present a candidate in this election shall submit the names of persons contesting in the party primaries, the date and venues of the party primaries on or before Thursday, 8th April, 2027, being at least 21 days before the nomination day," the notice read.
IEBC will subsequently publish the names of persons contesting party primaries and the dates of the primaries in the Gazette by Friday, April 16, 2027.
According to the notice, political parties will then have until Saturday, May 8, 2027, to conduct their primaries and resolve any intra-party disputes.
The commission will also require parties using direct nominations or party primaries to submit the names of their nominated candidates by the same date.
The notice further sets requirements for candidates seeking to run as independents. Such candidates must not be members of a registered political party by May 8, 2027 and must submit their names and intended symbols to IEBC by the same date.
Public officers planning to contest in the General Election will also have to resign from public office by Wednesday, February 10, 2027, six months before the election.
IEBC has also drawn attention to restrictions on public fundraising ahead of the election.
"A person who directly or indirectly participates in any public fundraising or harambee within eight months preceding a General Election, that is, after Wednesday 9th December 2026, shall be disqualified from contesting in the election," the notice added.
IEBC has further reminded political parties and all election participants that they are required to subscribe to and observe the Electoral Code of Conduct contained in the Second Schedule to the Elections Act.
This comes days after IEBC unveiled the official ballot paper colours that will be used during the 2027 General Election.
In a notice on Wednesday, August 12, the commission announced that each ballot paper will have a distinct colour matching the lid of its corresponding ballot box.
According to the IEBC, the presidential ballot paper and ballot box lid will be white, while those for Members of the National Assembly will be green.
The ballot paper and ballot box lid for Members of County Assembly (MCAs) will be beige, while those for Senators will be yellow.
The commission further stated that the Woman Representative ballot paper and ballot box lid will be purple, while the Governor ballot paper and ballot box lid will be blue.
IEBC emphasized that voters should ensure they place each ballot paper in the ballot box with the matching lid colour, noting that the colours are designed to make the voting process easier and more efficient.
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