The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has officially set Tuesday, August 10, 2027, as the date for Kenya’s next General Election, unveiling a detailed roadmap that outlines key electoral activities and deadlines leading up to the polls.
The announcement was made by Commissioner Ann Nderitu, Chairperson of the Election Operations Committee, during the launch of the Election Operations Plan (EOP), a framework designed to guide the planning, coordination and execution of the 2027 General Election.
Political Parties Face March Deadline
Political parties intending to participate in the election must submit their membership lists to the Commission by March 16, 2027. Parties are also required to provide details of candidates seeking nomination through party primaries, including the dates and venues of the primaries, by the same deadline.
According to the Commission, political parties must conclude their nomination exercises and resolve all intra-party disputes by May 9, 2027. The timeline is expected to give the electoral body adequate time to process nominations and address any emerging issues ahead of the official campaign period.
Individuals planning to contest as independent candidates must cease membership in any registered political party by May 9, 2027, at least three months before the General Election.
They are also required to submit their names and electoral symbols to the Commission by the same date.
The nomination period for both political party candidates and independent candidates will run from May 29 to June 11, 2027. Nomination papers will be presented directly to the IEBC Chairperson at designated venues during specified working hours.
Campaigns to Run for 71 Days
The Commission announced that the official campaign period will begin on May 29, 2027, and end on August 7, 2027, exactly 48 hours before polling day.
Any disputes arising from nominations must be filed by June 12, 2027, with the Commission required to determine and resolve them within ten days of lodging.
The Election Operations Plan is anchored in the IEBC Strategic Plan 2024–2029 and serves as a comprehensive framework for managing the electoral process.
According to Commissioner Nderitu, the plan seeks to ensure timely implementation of electoral activities, strengthen transparency and accountability, promote stakeholder participation, and enhance institutional resilience.
The Commission also reminded public officers intending to contest elective seats that they must resign from office by February 9, 2027, six months before the General Election, in line with legal requirements.
