IEBC Announces 2027 Election Date, Sets Deadlines for Candidates and Parties

Kenya will hold its next General Election on 10 August 2027, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) setting out deadlines for parties, candidates and public officers ahead of the vote.

The date and timetable were published in a series of Kenya Gazette notices in August and signed by IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon. The notices set deadlines for campaign financing, party primaries, candidate nominations and other key electoral activities.

The timetable follows the Election Operations Plan (EOP) 2025–2027, which was developed under the IEBC Strategic Plan 2024–2029. Commissioner Ann Nderitu, chairperson of the Election Operations Committee, said the plan was intended to strengthen transparency, accountability and public participation in the electoral process.

Public officers seeking elective positions must resign by 9 February 2027, six months before election day. Political parties must submit their membership lists and details of aspirants seeking nomination by 16 March 2027. They must also provide information on the venues and schedules for their party primaries by the same date.

Party primaries must be completed by 9 May 2027, with all related disputes resolved by that date. Independent candidates must also have resigned from any political party and submitted their symbols to the IEBC by the deadline.

Formal nominations for party and independent candidates will take place between 29 May and 11 June 2027. Any nomination disputes must be filed by 12 June, while the IEBC will have ten days to resolve them.

The official campaign period will run from 29 May to 7 August 2027. Campaigning must end 48 hours before polling day in accordance with electoral law. The timetable provides political parties, candidates and other stakeholders with fixed deadlines for preparing for the election.