The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has directed political parties to submit the names and sample signatures of officials authorised to represent them by Thursday, October 15.
According to the commission, the requirement applies to every political party that intends to take part in the General Election scheduled for Tuesday, August 10, next year.
“Political Parties intending to participate in the 2027 General Election shall submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorized persons on or before Thursday 15th October, 2026,” IEBC stated.
Parties have been asked to deliver the documents at Anniversary Towers, on the 7th Floor of the South Tower in Nairobi, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Ballot boxes that were used during the Msambweni by-elections on December 14, 2020.
With the deadline falling on Thursday, party officials who are yet to comply have barely a day left to get their paperwork in order.
The directive is anchored in a gazette notice dated August 20, which covers the elections for all elective positions in the country, including that of President, Senators, Members of the National Assembly, Woman Representatives, Governors and MCAs.
Beyond the signatures, parties must have their nomination rules certified by the Registrar of Political Parties by October 30, and then submit them to IEBC by November 6.
Aspirants have also been warned that anyone who takes part in a public fundraiser or harambee after December 9, 2026, will be disqualified from contesting.
Additionally, public officers eyeing elective seats must resign by February 10, 2027, the same date parties and candidates are expected to open and share details of their campaign financing accounts.
Certified party membership lists are due at the commission by April 12, 2027, while primaries must be held and internal disputes settled on or before May 8, 2027.
For independent candidates, they must quit their parties by May 8, while presidential hopefuls need signatures from at least 2,000 registered voters in a majority of counties by May 24.
Campaigns for presidential, senatorial, and National Assembly seats will kick off on May 29, 2027, and run daily from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm until August 7, 2027.
This comes days after at least three IEBC proposals to amend election laws ahead of the 2027 General Election faced rejection in Parliament over timing, implementation costs and constitutional concerns.
Led by the National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, the opposition targeted reforms on polling station voter limits, MCA nominations and party primary disputes, vowing to remove a contested provision in the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
National Assembly Majority Speaker Kimani Ichung'wah speaking during an engagement with Village Elders, State House, Nairobi County, August 4, 2026.
PCS