The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has ordered political parties planning to participate in the August 10, 2027, General Election to submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorised representatives by Thursday, October 15.
The commission said the directive applies to all political parties intending to participate in next year's elections.
“Political Parties intending to participate in the 2027 General Election shall submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorized persons on or before Thursday 15th October, 2026,” IEBC stated.
The documents are to be delivered to the commission's offices at Anniversary Towers, 7th Floor, South Tower, Nairobi, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
With the deadline approaching, political parties that have yet to submit the required information have less than a day to complete the process.
The directive is contained in a gazette notice published on August 20, outlining timelines for elections to all elective positions, including the presidency, Senate, National Assembly, county woman representatives, governorships and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs).
Under the electoral timetable, political parties must have their nomination rules certified by the Registrar of Political Parties by October 30 before submitting them to IEBC by November 6.
The commission has also outlined restrictions on aspirants, warning that candidates who participate in public fundraisers or harambees after December 9, 2026, risk disqualification from contesting in the elections.
Public officers seeking elective positions are required to resign by February 10, 2027. The same deadline applies to political parties and candidates for opening campaign financing accounts and disclosing the relevant details.
Political parties must submit their certified membership lists to IEBC by April 12, 2027, as aspirants prepare for the nomination process.
Party primaries must be conducted and internal disputes resolved by May 8, 2027. Individuals intending to contest as independents must also resign from their respective political parties by the same date.
Presidential candidates will be required to collect signatures from at least 2,000 registered voters drawn from a majority of counties by May 24, 2027.
Campaigns for presidential, senatorial and National Assembly candidates are scheduled to begin on May 29, 2027. Campaign activities will be permitted daily between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm until August 7, three days before the General Election.
IEBC Election Law Proposals Rejected
The directive comes days after Parliament rejected at least three proposals by IEBC seeking to amend electoral laws ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The proposed reforms faced resistance over concerns about the timing of their implementation, associated costs and potential constitutional implications.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah led the opposition to the proposed changes, which targeted voter limits at polling stations, MCA nominations and disputes arising from political party primaries.
The legislators also vowed to remove a contested provision in the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, dealing another setback to the commission's efforts to introduce changes before the next General Election.
