IEBC warns Sh258 million funding gap threatens 8 key by-elections ahead of November 27 polls

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned of a critical funding shortfall that could disrupt 24 pending by-elections across Kenya, with eight of them now at risk. All are scheduled for November 27, 2025.

Speaking on Wednesday before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon revealed that while the commission needs Sh1.046 billion to organise all the polls, the National Treasury has allocated only Sh888 million. He said the budget gap for the eight unfunded by-elections stands at Sh258 million.

“We have a total of 24 by-elections. The ones that are funded are 16, and the total funding for those by-elections is Sh788 million. The eight remaining ones that have not been funded amount to Sh258 million, so in terms of total costs, we are looking at Sh1.046 billion for the purpose of by-elections,” Ethekon told the committee, chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale.

23 vacant seats

The IEBC said the upcoming by-elections will fill 23 vacant seats nationwide, including six National Assembly seats, one Senate seat, and 16 county assembly positions. The vacancies arose from deaths and appointments to other positions. Notable seats include the Baringo County Senatorial seat and National Assembly constituencies such as Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja.

“The 16 had been provided for. We sought a meeting with the National Treasury, and we raised the matter of the additional eight, and they assured us that they will be giving funding for those ones as well. We are working with them. I hope they will unlock that very quickly because the timelines are sensitive,” Ethekon said.

Tindi Mwale urged the commission to identify areas where MPs could assist in preparations.

“We also want to know as Members of Parliament where you need help or a boost so that we have a free and fair election,” she said.

Ethekon, however, reassured the committee of the IEBC’s readiness.

“We believe we will give Kenyans a very good by-election as a test run for the 2027 General Election,” he said.

Expand voter registration

The commission also highlighted plans to expand voter registration ahead of the 2027 polls. Ethekon noted that they aim to register about 6.3 million new voters, 70 per cent of whom will be young people. This will increase the voter register from 22.5 million in 2022 to nearly 29 million.

On preparations, Ethekon acknowledged that postponing the ongoing boundaries delimitation exercise would be challenging.

“We can resolve the legality, but the practicality—for example, we will also require a budget to undertake this, and you know it is not a cheap exercise,” he told Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda.

Meanwhile, the IEBC headquarters at Anniversary Towers was bustling on Wednesday as independent candidates submitted names and symbols ahead of the by-elections.

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Political parties have been directed to submit candidate lists by September 17, while public officers intending to run must resign within seven days.

Independent candidates, who must have no political party affiliation for at least three months, face the same deadline.

The official campaign period for the by-elections will run from October 8 to November 24, with campaigning allowed between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm.

Ethekon emphasised that candidate agents should submit their names at least 14 days before the elections to allow adequate processing and training.