GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 18596

IN EXERCISE of powers conferred by Articles 84, 85, 88 (4), 97 (1) (a), 99, 101 (4), 103 (1) (a), 177 (1) (a) and 194 (1) (d) of the Constitution of Kenya, Sections 5 (1) (b), 13 (3), 16, 19, 24, 25, 28, 32, 33, 38, 43 (5A) and 74 of the Elections Act, 2011 and Regulations 11 (4) and (6), 11A, 12 (1), 13A,13B, 14, 15, 98 and Parts V, VIII and IX of the Election (General) Regulations, 2012, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission gives notice that: (a) Following the declaration of vacancies that occurred in the offices of Member of National Assembly, Isiolo South Constituency and Member of County Assembly for Muminji and Evurore Wards in Mbeere North Constituency, Embu County and West Kabras Ward, in Malava Constituency, Kakamega County issued by the respective Speakers, there shall be by-elections in the above listed electoral areas on Thursday, 26th February, 2026. (b) Each political party intending to participate in the by-elections shall submit the names and specimen signatures of the authorized persons on or before Tuesday, 13th January, 2026. (c) Each political party intending to participate in the by-elections shall submit the names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary on or before Friday, 2nd January, 2026. (d) New fully registered political parties and those that have revised their membership list post submission of certified list to the Commission and intend to participate in the by-elections are required to submit their certified membership lists on or before Friday, 2nd January, 2026. (e) A public officer who intends to contest in the by-elections shall resign from public office within seven (7) days of the declaration of vacancy. (f) The Commission shall publish, in the Gazette, the names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary within seven (7) days of receipt of the names of the candidates. (g) Candidates intending to participate in the by-elections as independent candidates shall not have been members of any political party at least three (3) months immediately before the date of the by-elections. (h) A political party intending to present candidates in the by- elections shall, after its party primaries resolve all intra-party disputes and submit the list of persons nominated to contest in the by-elections to the Commission on or before Friday, 16th January, 2026. (i) Political parties intending to present candidates in the by- elections through indirect nominations shall submit the list of persons nominated to contest in the by-elections to the Commission on or before Friday, 16th January, 2026. (j) Candidates intending to participate in the by-elections as independent candidates shall submit their names and symbols that they intend to use during the by-elections for purposes of nomination of independent candidates to the Commission on or before Friday 2nd January, 2026. (k) The Commission shall publish in the Gazette, the names and symbols of persons intending to contest in the by-elections as independent candidates within seven (7) days of receipt of the names of the candidates. (l) The days for the Commission nomination of political party and independent candidates for the by-elections shall be on Thursday 22nd January, 2026 and Friday 23rd January, 2026 and the nomination papers shall be delivered by the candidates to the respective Returning Officer between the hours of eight o’clock in the morning and one o’clock in the afternoon and between the hours of two o’clock and four o’clock in the afternoon at the place designated by the Commission. (m) Disputes relating to or arising from the Commission’s nomination shall be lodged with the Commission within 19th December, 2025 THE KENYA GAZETTE twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the dispute and, in any event, not later than Monday, 26th January, 2026. (n) Disputes relating to or arising from the Commission’s nomination shall be determined within ten (10) days of the lodging of the dispute with the Commission and in any event, not later than Wednesday, 4th February, 2026. (o) The campaign period for purposes of the Thursday 26th February, 2026 by-elections shall commence on Thursday, 22nd January, 2026 and cease on Monday, 23rd February, 2026 being 48 hours before the By-Election Day. (p) The Campaign time shall run from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. each day during the campaign period. (q) Participating political parties and independent candidate shall appoint and submit to the Commission the name of one Constituency Election Agent and polling station agents on or before Thursday, 12th February, 2026. (r) For purposes of the Thursday, 26th February, 2026 by- elections in Muminji and Evurore Wards in Mbeere North Constituency and West Kabras Ward in Malava Constituency, the Commission shall use the certified Register of Voters published on 21st June, 2022. (s) The registration and revision of the register of voters for Isiolo South Constituency is suspended until Monday, 30th March, 2026. (t) If the elections are contested, the poll will take place on Thursday, 26th February, 2026. NOTES: 1. The attention of candidates and persons subscribing nomination papers is drawn to the provisions of Parts V, VIII and IX of the Election (General) Regulations, 2012, Section 13 (2) and the First Schedule to the Leadership and Integrity Act, Cap. 185C and Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya. 2. Every political party, candidate and every person who participates in the election shall subscribe to and observe the Electoral Code of Conduct set out in the Second Schedule to the Elections Act, Cap 7. 3. Disputes relating to or arising from nominations shall be heard and determined at a venue specified by the Commission. 4. The Rules of Procedure on Settlement of Disputes may be accessed on the Commission’s website, https://www.iebc.or.ke/uploads/resources/902SFZiDqt .pdf 5. The nomination disputes shall be filed with the Commission either physically at Anniversary Towers or via email info@iebc.or.ke or ppl@iebc.or.ke. 6. The Statutory Complaint Form is accessible on the Commission’s website, https://www.iebc.or.ke/uploads/resources/GvxDOTUu E2.pdf. 7. A person guilty of an election offence will be liable to the penalties imposed by the Election Offences Act, Cap. 66, the disqualifications imposed thereof and the Constitution of Kenya. 8. The attention of candidates and political parties is drawn to the provisions of section 43 (5A) of the Elections Act, Cap. 7, on resignation of public officers. 9. The attention of candidates is drawn to the provisions of section 26 of the Elections Act, Cap. 7, on public fundraising or harambee. Dated 18th December, 2025. ERASTUS EDUNG ETHEKON, Chairperson, S05955 Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.