Nairobi: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is meticulously preparing for the 2027 General Election with the aim of registering at least 28.5 million eligible voters. The Commission is committed to ensuring that the upcoming polls are conducted in a fair, credible, transparent, and verifiable manner.
According to Kenya News Agency, the IEBC has published Gazette Notice No. 13497 in the Kenya Gazette, which outlines the electoral calendar and the activation of two essential legal instruments for the August 10, 2027, General Election: the Electoral Code of Conduct and the Election Offences Act.
In a bid to ensure a credible and inclusive election process, the IEBC has crafted a comprehensive Election Operations Plan and a Strategic Plan for 2024-2029. These plans will serve as a guiding framework for the Commission’s activities leading up to the 2027 General Election.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon emphasized the importance of a clean, accurate, and verifiable voter register. Since the launch of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on September 29, 2025, the Commission has been actively encouraging eligible Kenyans to register, update their details, or transfer their registration.
In the 2022 General Election, Kenya had 22.1 million registered voters. For the upcoming 2027 General Election, the IEBC is projecting a voter register of approximately 28.5 million, aiming to enhance voter participation.
The Commission is also expanding its voter registration efforts for Kenyans living abroad, increasing the number of participating countries from 12 to 26. This expansion supports the constitutional right of eligible citizens residing outside Kenya to participate in elections.
To bolster the integrity of the voter register, the IEBC is utilizing biometric technology for voter registration and verification. This technology will enable voters to inspect and verify their biometric data before Election Day, reducing instances of deceased persons and double registrations. A professional independent audit firm will conduct a forensic audit of the voter register to certify it for use in the 2027 election.
Ethekon reiterated the importance of a collaborative approach to achieve a successful election, pledging cooperation with government agencies, political parties, the media, civil society, faith-based organizations, development partners, and the public.
The Commission is also focusing on strengthening coordination among security and justice actors to ensure a peaceful election environment. This multi-sectoral approach is deemed crucial for peaceful elections, enhancing officials’ capacity, and enforcing the law efficiently.
Election timelines dictate that public officers intending to contest in the election must resign by February 10, 2027, six months before the election. Political parties are required to submit authorized persons’ names and specimen signatures by October 15, 2026, and have their nomination rules certified by October 30, 2026.
Political parties must also submit their membership lists and names of candidates for party primaries by March 16, 2027. All party primaries and intra-party dispute resolutions must be completed by May 8, 2027. Independent candidates are required to submit their details to the Commission by the same date.
Presidential aspirants must submit a list of at least 2,000 registered voters from a majority of counties by May 24, 2027. Candidate registration will take place between May 29, 2027, and June 11, 2027.
The campaign period for the 2027 General Election will commence after candidate registration but not earlier than May 29, 2027, ending on August 7, 2027, 48 hours before Election Day. Any campaigning outside this period is deemed unlawful.
IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat encouraged election officials to apply lessons from Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration I to strengthen the next phase. During a workshop in Mombasa, she assured that the Commission would mobilize necessary funds and resources to support the effective rollout of ECVR II.
