The gazette notice published Friday, 8th, provides key details on the candidacy and nomination processes.
NAIROBI, Kenya August 9 –The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that all by-elections will be held on November 27, 2025.
The Ethekon Edung-led electoral body will undertake the gazette of these by-elections in two batches.
The first batch for Members of County Assemblies across the country is scheduled for gazettment on Friday, August 8, 2025.
The 16 Wards include Angata Nanyokie Ward (Samburu County), Chemundu/Kapng’etuny Ward (Nandi County), Chewani Ward (Tana River County), Fafi Ward (Garissa County), Kariobangi North Ward (Nairobi City County), Kisa East Ward (Kakamega County), Metkei Ward (Elgeyo Marakwet County), and Mumbuni North Ward (Machakos County).
The rest are Narok Town Ward (Narok County), Purko Ward (Kajiado County), Tembelio Ward (Uasin Gishu County), Nyansiongo, Nyamaiya, Ekerenyo Wards (Nyamira County), Lake Zone and Nanaam Wards (Turkana County).
The second batch of a special gazette will be published on Monday, August 11, 2025, to cover: One Member of Senate for Baringo County, Six Members of the National Assembly for Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja Constituencies.
Bungoma County’s Member of County Assembly for Kabuchai/Chwele Ward will also be included.
Political parties intending to participate must submit their names by Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
“Any public officer wanting to contest must resign from their position within seven days of the notice provided,” the Gazette notice clarifies.
Consequently, the IEBC will publish the names and dates of party primaries in the gazette within seven days of receiving them.
Independent candidates must not have been members of any political party for at least three months before the election date. They must submit their names and symbols for nomination by September 17, 2025.
Candidate registration for both political party nominees and independents will take place on Wednesday and Thursday (October 8 and 9), 2025, respectively.
This is further scheduled to take place at designated IEBC offices from 8am – 1pm, and from 2pm to 4pm.
Disputes arising from nominations must be resolved within ten days of lodging and no later than Friday, October 17, 2025.
This electoral development is an acid test for both the IEBC, the broad-based government allied parties and the United Opposition.
The country and key stakeholders will closely observe how the new IEBC team navigates the unpredictable terrains to ensure a fair, verifiable, and transparent process before, during, and after the upcoming mini-polls.
On the political alliances front, a showdown is looming between President William Ruto’s ruling UDA and Raila Odinga’s (ODM)parties, pitted against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s (DCP), Kalonzo Musyoka’s (Wiper) Martha Karua’s (PLP), Eugene Wamalwa’s (DAP-K) and Fred Matiangi.
Pointedly, DCP is working tirelessly to plough away and consolidate the Mt Kenya votes after ‘betrayal’ by Dr Ruto’s government.
Political pundits say that they expect a spectacle in the battle royale for the ‘Mrima‘ votes between UDA and DCP, further seen as a pointer on how the 2027 elections plebiscite might take shape in the region.
The political parties will further face an uphill task in picking the right candidates during the scheduled internal nominations.
