Kenyans cast ballots /AI ILLUSTRATIONThe Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has issued a comprehensive communique outlining the procedural and legal requirements that political parties must meet ahead of the by-elections scheduled for November 27, 2025.
The elections, as announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), will include one Senate seat in Baringo County, six National Assembly constituencies—Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North and Ugunja—and 17 ward-level mini polls across the country.
In accordance with the Political Parties Act and relevant Gazette notices issued in August, the ORPP has set out a series of deadlines and obligations that parties must adhere to to participate in the electoral process.
The first major deadline was September 17, by which parties were required to submit the names and specimen signatures of individuals authorised to sign nomination certificates.
This step is crucial for validating the authenticity of party nominations.
Parties intending to nominate candidates must also request a certified membership register from the ORPP at least 21 days before their nomination dates.
Once requested, the ORPP is obligated to issue the certified register within seven days.
Furthermore, parties must notify the ORPP of their nomination procedures, including the method, date, venue, and the list of members seeking nomination, no later than 10 days prior to the nomination date.
Transparency is a key requirement, with parties expected to publish the nomination particulars—including dates and venues—on both their official websites and the ORPP’s website at least seven days before nominations commence.
At the nomination venues, parties must display the list of qualified members eligible to participate in direct nominations.
They are also required to submit and publish details of the party organ responsible for conducting nominations and the procedures to be followed.
For parties opting for direct nominations, the provision of essential election materials such as ballot papers, ballot boxes, membership registers, pens, and nomination result slips is mandatory at each polling station.
Those choosing indirect nominations must first select delegates from among registered members, submit the delegate list to the ORPP at least seven days before nominations, and specify the date and venue of the delegates’ meeting.
Additionally, the polling process, interview methods, and the body responsible for conducting candidate interviews must be clearly defined and submitted in advance.
Candidates are expected to submit self-declaration forms in line with the Leadership and Integrity Act before the nomination date.
Any disputes arising from the nomination process must be resolved within 30 days, with October 2, 2025, serving as the deadline for such resolutions.
The communique underscores the importance of compliance with the Political Parties Act, the Election Code of Conduct, and all relevant regulations and Gazette notices.
Political parties are therefore urged to adhere strictly to these timelines and procedural requirements to ensure their participation in the upcoming by-elections is both lawful and orderly.
