IEBC GEARS UP FOR NOVEMBER BY ELECTIONS, AS VOTER REGISTRATION RESUMES.
A by-election season is upon Kenya as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ramps up preparations for the mini-polls scheduled for 27 November 2025. The IEBC has confirmed that a total of 23 by-elections will be held: six for National Assembly seats, one for a Senate vacancy, and 16 for county assembly (MCA) seats. These vacancies have arisen through various causes such as demise, appointments to other positions, or other constitutional triggers.
In readiness for these by-elections, the IEBC asserts that it has secured the necessary funding from the National Treasury and is pushing forward with logistics, staffing, and training. According to Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, all outstanding financial and operational gaps have been addressed, leaving the commission confident that it can deliver credible polls. The IEBC has already appointed returning officers and deputy returning officers for the parliamentary and county assembly by-elections, as published in the Kenya Gazette in August.
The electoral body has laid out a formal campaign period for the by-elections: from 8 October to 24 November 2025, ceasing 48 hours before polling day. Campaign activities will be permitted daily from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Independent candidates are subject to additional rules: they must not have belonged to any political party for at least three months before the election date, and they are required to submit their intended symbol and other nomination details by 17 September 2025. Furthermore, independent aspirants are required to deliver the names of their polling agents at least 14 days before polling.
Across party lines, hopefuls are organizing primaries, mobilizing supporters, and preparing candidate lists. While a full roster of contestants is not yet in the public domain, names of aspirants for several of the National Assembly and MCA vacancies are expected to emerge in the coming weeks, with each party required to follow internal rules in nominating its representative.
Parallel to the by-election preparations, IEBC has reopened its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as of Monday, 29 September 2025. This is part of a larger strategy to expand Kenya’s voter register ahead of the 2027 General Election. Under the CVR, eligible citizens can register anew, update existing records, correct errors, or transfer registration between polling stations. The commission has urged all eligible Kenyans—especially those who have recently turned 18—to take advantage of this period.
As of the 2022 voter register, Kenya had about 22.12 million registered voters. IEBC’s ambition is to grow that base toward 28.5 million by 2027. However, the commission has noted that areas currently holding by-elections will be excluded from the CVR exercise until after the polls are concluded, so as to avoid interference or confusion in those jurisdictions. Early reports from the first day of the registration suggest relatively low turnout in some parts, as officials begin to staff offices and conduct outreach.
In sum, Kenya is entering a busy electoral stretch: the by-elections in November serve as a probe of IEBC’s capacity, while the resumed voter registration is a foundational step toward the 2027 general poll. The next weeks will be decisive as contestants emerge, campaigns unfold, and the public’s confidence in the process will be tested.
