NAIROBI, Kenya- The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that the official campaign period for the 2027 General Election will begin on May 29, 2027, and end on August 7, 2027, 48 hours before Kenyans head to the polls.
The timelines were unveiled during the launch of the IEBC’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan and the Election Operations Plan (EOP) 2025–2027, documents intended to guide preparations for the August 10, 2027 General Election.
According to the electoral commission, political parties and candidates will be required to adhere to a series of strict deadlines as the country gears up for the polls.
The commission said nominations for political party candidates and independent candidates will take place between May 29 and June 11, 2027.
Candidates will be expected to submit their nomination papers to the IEBC chairperson at designated venues during the stipulated nomination period.
Political parties intending to field candidates in the election have also been directed to conclude their party primaries and resolve all intra-party disputes by May 9, 2027.
For independent candidates, the commission stated that anyone seeking to contest outside a political party must cease being a member of any registered political party by May 9, 2027.
They will also be required to submit their names and symbols to the commission by the same date.
The IEBC further announced that disputes arising from nominations must be lodged no later than June 12, 2027, and will be determined within 10 days of filing.
In another key requirement, political parties and candidates will be required to appoint and submit the names of their election agents to the commission on or before July 27, 2027, ahead of polling day.
The campaign period will officially run for just over two months, giving candidates a defined window to seek support from voters before campaign activities cease on August 7, 2027.
The announcement comes as the commission intensifies preparations for the next General Election under the leadership of IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, with voter registration, election planning and stakeholder engagement already underway.
The timelines are expected to provide political parties, candidates and election stakeholders with a clear roadmap as the country begins its march towards the 2027 polls.
