The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has released detailed guidelines outlining requirements and qualifications for aspirants eyeing elective seats in the upcoming November by-elections.
In its notice, the Commission emphasized that all candidates must be Kenyan citizens by birth and must have held citizenship for at least 10 years before the election. It further directed that individuals with dual citizenship will be required to renounce it before taking the oath of office.
Aspirants will also be required to pay nomination fees, with amounts varying depending on the seat sought and candidate category. For County Assembly seats, women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will pay Ksh10,000, while other candidates will part with Ksh20,000. Parliamentary aspirants from marginalized groups will pay Ksh2,500, compared to Ksh5,000 for others. Senate candidates will pay Ksh25,000 for marginalized groups and Ksh50,000 for other contenders.
Independent candidates face stricter requirements. Besides the payment of fees, they must demonstrate broad grassroots support. National Assembly aspirants are expected to submit a list of at least 1,000 supporters, each accompanied by a copy of their national identity card. County Assembly aspirants must provide 500 supporters, while Senate aspirants will need at least 2,000.
The IEBC also underscored that independent candidates must not have been members of any political party within three months preceding the by-election. All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, must further obtain a self-declaration form from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The by-elections will fill several vacant seats. The first set of 16 ward positions, gazetted on August 8, includes Kariobangi North in Nairobi, Kisa East in Kakamega, and Metkei in Elgeyo Marakwet. A second set of vacancies, to be gazetted on August 11, includes the Baringo Senate seat, six National Assembly constituencies Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja along with the Kabuchai/Chwele Ward in Bungoma County.
With the nomination window now open, aspirants will be racing against time to meet IEBC’s stringent requirements, setting the stage for high-stakes political contests in November.
