With the 2027 General Election now less than a year away, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has released a detailed roadmap outlining when political parties, aspirants and candidates must complete key steps before Kenyans go to the polls.
The election is scheduled for August 10, 2027, but for those seeking elective office, the process begins much earlier.
The timelines cover everything from political party preparations and primaries to candidate registration, campaigns, submission of supporters’ lists and the resolution of nomination disputes.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon has urged aspirants and political parties to familiarise themselves with the requirements to avoid being locked out of the electoral process.
Here are the key dates and what they mean.
October 15, 2026: Political parties submit authorised officials
Political parties intending to participate in the 2027 General Election must submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorised officials to the IEBC by October 15, 2026.
The information will help the electoral commission identify officials authorised to transact election-related business on behalf of political parties.
This is one of the earliest deadlines in the IEBC’s election roadmap.
December 9, 2026: Fundraising deadline
Aspirants will also need to watch the deadline governing political fundraising.
The IEBC has cautioned candidates against participating in fundraisers or harambees after December 9, 2026, warning that violating the requirement could affect their eligibility to contest.
The restriction forms part of the commission’s efforts to enforce rules governing campaign financing ahead of the polls.
February 10, 2027: Public officers must resign
Public officers seeking elective positions must resign from public office by February 10, 2027.
The deadline is particularly important for civil servants and other public officers who intend to transition into electoral politics.
Anyone affected by the requirement will therefore need to make the decision months before the election.
April 8, 2027: Parties disclose their primary plans
Political parties intending to field candidates will be required to submit details of their planned party primaries by April 8, 2027.
The information will include the names of people seeking the party’s nomination, as well as the dates and venues of the primaries.
This deadline is expected to give the IEBC visibility over the party nomination process before candidates proceed to the formal registration stage.
May 8, 2027: Presidential nominees submitted to IEBC
Political parties intending to nominate presidential candidates must submit the names of their nominees to the IEBC by May 8, 2027.
This applies to presidential candidates selected through direct nominations or party primaries.
The deadline comes before the formal candidate registration period and gives the commission time to verify the nominees and prepare for the next stage of the election process.
May 24, 2027: Presidential aspirants submit supporters’ lists
One of the most important deadlines for presidential aspirants is May 24, 2027.
Each presidential aspirant will be required to submit a list containing the names, signatures and national ID or valid passport numbers of at least 2,000 registered voters in a majority of Kenya’s 47 counties.
The IEBC said the requirement is part of the registration process for presidential candidates.
“Aspirants vying for President shall deliver to the Commission a list bearing the names, respective signatures, identity card or valid Passport numbers of at least 2,000 voters registered in each of a majority of the counties by 24th May 2027,” the IEBC stated.
For presidential hopefuls, missing this deadline could therefore have serious consequences for their bid.
May 29 to June 11, 2027: Candidate registration
The formal candidate registration period will run from May 29 to June 11, 2027.
However, aspirants for different elective positions have been assigned different dates within this window.
Presidential candidates will present themselves for registration between May 29 and June 11.
National Assembly candidates will be registered between May 29 and June 1, while Senate candidates will have their registration period between May 29 and June 2.
Governorship candidates will be registered between June 3 and June 6.
Candidates for the position of County Woman Representative will be registered between June 7 and June 11, while Members of County Assembly will have their registration period between June 2 and June 11.
The IEBC said the purpose of the exercise is to register candidates who meet the legal and constitutional requirements for the various elective positions.
“During nomination, the Commission shall register eligible and qualified candidates for election,” the commission said.
June 12, 2027: Deadline for nomination disputes
Candidates and political parties will also have a short window to challenge issues arising from the nomination process.
According to the IEBC, nomination disputes must be lodged within 24 hours of the occurrence of the disputed issue, and in any event no later than June 12, 2027.
The commission has set June 23, 2027 as the deadline for resolving the disputes.
This means aspirants who are unhappy with the nomination process will need to act quickly rather than wait until the wider election period.
May 29 to August 7, 2027: Campaign period
The official campaign period will begin on May 29, 2027, and run until August 7, 2027, three days before the election.
This means candidates will have just over two months to conduct their official campaigns before the August 10 poll.
The campaign period will follow the completion of party primaries, candidate nominations and the resolution of nomination disputes.
August 10, 2027: Election Day
The most important date on the calendar is August 10, 2027, when Kenyans will elect their President, Members of Parliament, governors, women representatives and Members of County Assembly.
The IEBC has placed all the preceding deadlines within its broader Election Operations Plan to ensure the activities leading to the poll are completed on time.
What about campaign posters carrying the IEBC logo?
As preparations gather pace, the IEBC has also moved to stop the unauthorised use of its logo on campaign materials.
Ethekon said the commission had identified aspirants and political actors using the IEBC logo on campaign posters and other materials.
He ordered those involved to remove the materials within five days.
“The Commission has noted the unauthorized use of its logo on campaign materials. Such use is irregular and unlawful and may falsely imply Commission endorsement,” Ethekon said.
The IEBC chairperson warned that such use could create the impression that the electoral body supports particular candidates or political actors, undermining its independence and non-partisan role.
He directed the affected political actors to immediately stop using the logo and remove the offending materials.
“Failing which appropriate action will be taken,” Ethekon warned.
The directive comes as political activity begins intensifying ahead of the 2027 election, even though the official campaign period will not begin until May 29, 2027.
Why these timelines matter
The IEBC’s roadmap means aspirants cannot wait until the election year is well underway to organise their campaigns.
Political parties must first complete administrative requirements, organise their primaries and submit their candidates. Presidential aspirants must also meet the supporter-list requirement, while public officers seeking elective positions must leave public office within the prescribed period.
The timelines also create deadlines for resolving disputes before the official campaign period begins.
For voters, the roadmap provides a clearer picture of how the election will unfold.
For aspirants and political parties, however, the message from the IEBC is more direct: missing a deadline could mean missing an opportunity to contest.
With the election set for August 10, 2027, the race is therefore not only about winning votes. It is also about meeting every legal and administrative requirement along the way.
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