Kenya’s 2025 By-Elections: A Litmus Test for Electoral Integrity and Democratic Renewal

Kenya’s 2025 By-Elections: A Litmus Test for Electoral Integrity and Democratic Renewal

Recently, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) released a gazette notice announcing that the by-elections shall be conducted on November 27^th 2025. These by-elections, spanning both parliamentary and ward-level seats, offer a unique opportunity to assess the IEBC’s operational readiness, and commitment to democratic principles. The 24 by-elections include seven parliamentary seats—six in the National Assembly (Ugenya, Kasipul, Mbeere North, Banisa, Magarini, and Malava) and one in the Senate (Baringo County). Under the same umbrella are the 17 ward-level seats across various counties including Samburu, Nandi, Tana River, Garissa, Nairobi City, Kakamega, Elgeyo Marakwet, Machakos, Narok, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, and Turkana counties.

The vacancies have arisen from a range of causes including death of some members like Kullow Hassan, MP for Banisa constituency and judicial election nullification like Harrison Kombe, MP for Magarini constituency. The delay in the Commission’s member reconstitution played an implicatory role in the by-elections delay as it lacked Commissioners to receive the notification from Parliament and commence operations to fill the mentioned vacancies. According to Article 101(4)(b) of the Constitution, Parliament is mandated to issue a writ referencing the vacancies to the Commission so that by-elections can be held within 90 days of their occurrence unless said vacancies occured within three months of an incoming General Election.

Constitutional Timelines and Public Expectations

As previously mentioned, IEBC Gazette Notice dated August 8^th, 2025, announces multiple by-elections scheduled for November 27^th, 2025. The document further appoints specific Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers for each election and establishes key dates including September 17^th for political party submissions. The dates are October 2^nd for candidate nominations after primaries, and October 8-9^th for nomination registration, while setting the campaign period from October 8^th to November 24^th. Additionally, the notice establishes dispute resolution mechanisms by appointing members to both the IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee and the Electoral Code of Conduct Committee, with all appointments taking effect immediately under the authority of IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon.

Operational Structures and Preparedness

Electoral processes are resource-intensive, involving logistics, voter education, ICT infrastructure, and security coordination. To that effect, the IEBC has structured its internal committees to enhance day to day operations and specialization in preparation for the 2027 General Elections. Vice Chairperson Fahima Abdallah now oversees the finance and procurement committee, while Commissioner Ann Nderitu leads the election operations committee. Additionally, Mr Moses Utalala, Prof Francis Aduol and Mr Hassan Noor Hassan have been assigned to voter education, boundaries delimitation & ICT, and human resource management respectively. This decentralized approach to oversight is a positive step toward institutional reform, but its effectiveness will depend on execution and public transparency.

Civic Engagement and the Role of Stakeholders

Beyond the IEBC, the success of the by-elections will depend on active engagement from civil society, political parties, media, and the electorate. Voter education campaigns must be intensified to ensure that citizens understand the significance of these polls and their rights within the electoral process. Civic organizations can play a vital role in monitoring the elections, reporting irregularities, and fostering dialogue around electoral justice. The commission’s decision to assign Commissioner Moses Alutalala to lead voter education, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement is a strategic move. Moreover, its recent public notice to interested CSOs interested in applying for accreditation as voter education providers, election observers and media practitioners shows commitment to this initiative. However, the effectiveness of these efforts will hinge on collaboration with grassroots organizations, religious institutions, and youth networks (in the spirit of stakeholder engagement) especially in areas where political disenchantment is high.