The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has raised concerns over insufficient funding for the upcoming by-elections scheduled for November 27, 2025.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon and Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein on Wednesday, September 9, 2025, informed the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee that while funds have been secured for 16 of the 24 planned by-elections, the National Treasury is yet to release financing for the remaining eight.
Ethekon however noted that the Commission is actively engaging with the Treasury to expedite funding as the election timelines are “sensitive”.
“The 16 had been provided for. We sort a meeting with the National Treasury, and we raised the matter of the additional 8, 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,” said the IEBC Chairperson.
IEBC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marjan Hussein, on his part, noted that the by-elections are set to cost over Ksh1 billion.
“We have a total of 24 by-elections. The ones that are funded are 16, and the total funding for those by-elections is Ksh788 million. The eight remaining ones that have not been funded amount to Ksh258 million, so in terms of total costs, we are looking at Ksh1,046,000,000 for the purpose of by-elections.”
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Chairperson Ethekon also said that looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the Commission aims to increase the registered voter count to 27 million.
According to him, IEBC is targeting 6.3 million new voters, with 70% expected to be young people.
“We are targeting about 6.3 million new voters, 70% of whom will be young people,” Ethekon added.
November by-elections
The November by-elections will fill vacant electoral seats nationwide — including six National Assembly seats, one Senate seat, and 16 county assembly (MCA) positions — vacancies caused by deaths and appointments to other roles.
Notable seats include the Baringo County Senatorial seat and several National Assembly constituencies such as Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja.
In a Gazette notice published in August, IEBC announced 16 county assembly ward by-elections across various counties, including Samburu, Nandi, Tana River, Garissa, Nairobi City, Kakamega, Elgeyo Marakwet, Machakos, Narok, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, and Turkana counties. The remaining by-elections are set to be gazetted soon.
The Commission had directed political parties to submit their candidate lists by Wednesday, September 17.
In addition, any public officers intending to run were reminded to resign within seven days of the notice.
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Independent candidates, who must have no political party affiliation for at least three months before election day, are also required to submit their names by the same date.
The official campaign period will run from October 8 to November 24, with daily campaigning permitted between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
IEBC Chairperson Ethekon emphasized the importance of smooth preparations, instructing independent candidates to submit the names of their agents at least 14 days before the by-elections to allow for adequate processing and training.
The Commission will use the certified voter register published on June 21, 2022, to conduct the by-elections.
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Newly sworn-in IEBC Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and commissioners. PHOTO/IEBC
