The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has unveiled a detailed roadmap for the 2027 General Election, setting out crucial deadlines that political parties, public officers and aspiring candidates must meet ahead of the polls scheduled for August 10, 2027.
The timelines are contained in the Election Operations Plan (EOP) 2025-2027, a framework anchored in the IEBC Strategic Plan 2024-2029 and designed to guide the planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of activities leading up to the election.
Speaking during the launch of the plan, Chairperson of the Election Operations Committee Commissioner Ann Nderitu said the roadmap aims to ensure the timely implementation of electoral activities, strengthen transparency and accountability, promote stakeholder engagement and citizen participation, and ensure compliance with the country's electoral laws.
According to the plan, Kenyans will go to the polls on Tuesday, August 10, 2027, to elect the President and other leaders.
However, preparations for the election will begin much earlier, with public officers intending to contest required to resign from their positions by February 9, 2027, six months before the election date.
Political parties will then be expected to submit their membership lists to the commission by March 16, 2027. By the same date, parties intending to field candidates in the General Election must also provide IEBC with the names of aspirants seeking nomination through party primaries, as well as details of the dates and venues where the nominations will be conducted.
The commission has set May 9, 2027, as the deadline for political parties to conclude their primaries and resolve all intra-party disputes.
The date is equally significant for independent candidates, who must have resigned from any political party by then and submitted their names and symbols to the commission.
Candidate nominations for both political parties and independent aspirants will take place between May 29 and June 11, 2027.
During this period, candidates will be required to personally deliver their nomination papers to the IEBC Chairperson at designated venues and within the prescribed hours.
Any disputes arising from nominations must be lodged with the Commission no later than June 12, 2027.
The IEBC says such disputes will be determined within ten days of being filed to avoid delays in the electoral calendar.
The roadmap also outlines the official campaign period, which will commence on May 29, 2027, and run until August 7, 2027. Campaigns must cease 48 hours before election day in accordance with electoral laws.
Nderitu said the Election Operations Plan provides a comprehensive framework to ensure the successful conduct of the 2027 General Election and enhance institutional preparedness as the country gears up for another democratic transition.
