Public officers seeking to contest in the 2027 General Election have until February 9, 2027, to resign from their positions, six months before Kenyans head to the polls.
The deadline is among key timelines set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as preparations for the August 10, 2027 General Election gather pace.
According to the commission’s Election Operations Plan (EOP) 2025-2027, public officers intending to contest for elective positions must leave office by February 9 to comply with the electoral requirements.
The IEBC has set Tuesday, August 10, 2027, as the date for the General Election, when Kenyans will elect the President, governors, senators, members of the National Assembly and members of county assemblies.
The commission’s timelines are contained in several Kenya Gazette notices published in August 2026, covering the various elective positions and campaign financing requirements.
The publication formally sets out the electoral calendar that political parties, public officers and prospective candidates will be required to follow in the run-up to the polls.
The February 9 deadline is particularly significant for public servants who plan to transition from government positions into electoral politics, as those seeking elective office will have to make their decisions months before the campaign period begins.
Political parties will have until March 16, 2027, to submit their membership lists to the IEBC.
By the same date, parties intending to field candidates will also be required to submit the names of aspirants seeking nomination through party primaries, together with details of the dates and venues for the nominations.
The commission has given parties until May 9, 2027, to complete their primaries and resolve any disputes arising from the nomination process.
The date will also mark an important deadline for independent candidates, who must have resigned from any political party by then and submitted their names and symbols to the IEBC.
Candidate nominations for political parties and independent candidates will be conducted between May 29 and June 11, 2027.
During the nomination period, candidates will be required to personally present their nomination papers to the IEBC chairperson at designated venues and within the prescribed hours.
Any disputes arising from the nomination exercise must be filed with the commission by June 12, 2027. The IEBC says it will determine the disputes within ten days of filing to avoid disrupting the electoral calendar.
The official campaign period will run from May 29 to August 7, 2027, with campaigns required to stop 48 hours before election day.
The timelines were outlined in the Election Operations Plan 2025-2027, a framework anchored in the IEBC Strategic Plan 2024-2029 and intended to guide the planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of activities leading to the election.
Speaking during the launch of the plan in June, Election Operations Committee chairperson Commissioner Ann Nderitu said the roadmap would promote transparency and accountability, strengthen stakeholder engagement and citizen participation, and ensure compliance with electoral laws.
The IEBC has urged political parties, prospective candidates and other stakeholders to align their preparations with the published timelines as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.
The full Kenya Gazette notices and electoral timelines have been made available by the commission for public access.
