NAROK, Kenya — The Ministry of Education has ordered the closure of all primary schools in Emurua Dikirr Constituency next week to allow the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to conduct party nominations ahead of the May 14 by-election.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the decision followed a formal request from the ruling party seeking to use the schools as polling stations for the nominations scheduled for Friday, March 27.
He confirmed the ministry had approved the request and issued instructions to safeguard school property.
“I want to confirm that on the 15th of this month, I received a letter from the UDA party requesting that primary schools in Emurua Dikirr constituency be used as polling stations for the purposes of the UDA primaries coming on the 27,” Bitok said while addressing the media on Saturday, March 21.
“I want to confirm that we have allowed them to use these schools as polling stations, and we have given very firm instructions to the aspirants that we are not going to entertain any destruction or interference of properties of schools,” he added.
Bitok also assured that the ministry would remain neutral and extend similar permission to other political parties seeking to use school facilities for nomination exercises.
The UDA National Elections Board had earlier rescheduled the nominations from Saturday, March 28, to Friday, March 27. The party said the exercise will run from 7 am to 5 pm.
Nomination activities will also be conducted in Porro Ward in Samburu West Constituency and Endo Ward in Marakwet East Constituency on the same day—applications for nominations closed on Friday, March 20.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), through a special Gazette Notice dated March 13, confirmed that by-elections in the affected areas will be held on May 14, 2026. Political parties intending to participate must submit their candidates’ names by Wednesday, March 25.
Independent candidates are required to submit their names and proposed symbols to the commission by the same deadline.
The commission further stated that independent candidates must not have been members of any political party for at least three months immediately before the by-election date.
It also reminded public officers intending to contest that they must resign within seven days of the declaration of the vacancy.
IEBC will announce the candidates on April 15 and April 16, after which campaigns will run from April 15 to May 11, from 7 am to 6 pm.
Education officials, however, maintain that schools remain the most accessible public infrastructure for electoral activities, particularly in rural constituencies.
Authorities said normal learning will resume immediately after the nomination exercise, with education officers tasked to assess any damage or disruptions before reopening.
