Parties submit officials’ details as 2027 nomination race takes shape

Political parties have submitted the names and specimen signatures of officials authorised to represent them to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), marking an early step in preparations for the 2027 General Election as parties move closer to the nomination season that will determine candidates for the presidency, Parliament and county-level positions.

The submissions were done on Thursday, October 15, under a directive requiring parties intending to participate in the elections to identify officials authorised to transact election-related business on their behalf.

In a notice issued on Wednesday, October 14, the commission directed the parties to deliver the required details to its offices at Anniversary Towers, Seventh Floor, South Tower, in Nairobi, between 8am and 5pm.

“Political Parties intending to participate in the 2027 General Election shall submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorised persons on or before Thursday 15th October, 2026,” the commission said.

The deadline is part of the electoral calendar published by the commission ahead of the next General Election, which will determine the holders of all elective positions, including the presidency, parliamentary seats, governorships and county assembly positions.

The submission of officials’ details is among the administrative requirements political parties must meet as they prepare for candidate selection, internal nominations and eventual registration of their candidates.

Parties now face another compliance deadline on October 30, when their nomination rules must be certified by the Registrar of Political Parties. The certified rules must then be submitted to the IEBC by November 6. The rules will govern the process through which parties select candidates for elective positions, including the resolution of disputes arising from party primaries.

The commission has set February 10, 2027, as the deadline for public officers intending to contest elective seats to resign from office, while parties will be required to submit membership records and details relating to their nomination exercises within the timelines prescribed in the electoral calendar.

Party primaries and the resolution of internal nomination disputes are scheduled to be completed by May 8, 2027, ahead of candidate registration and the official campaign period.

The campaign period is scheduled to run from May 29 to August 7, three days before polling day.

The IEBC is also undertaking preparations to strengthen the voter register ahead of the election, with plans for continuous voter registration, biometric verification and an independent forensic audit.

The commission has projected that the number of registered voters could rise to approximately 28.5 million by the 2027 elections, compared with 22.1 million in the 2022 General Election.

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