Kenya Election 2027: Date, Voter Registration and Key IEBC Deadlines

Updated 17 October 2026

Kenya’s next general election is on Tuesday, 10 August 2027. The Constitution fixes the date as the second Tuesday of August every fifth year, so no separate announcement is needed. This page tracks the official milestones from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), explains how to register and check your details, and sets out what the election calendar means for businesses. It is a neutral guide: it does not cover candidates or parties.

Key Dates for the 2027 General Election

These dates come from the IEBC Election Operation Plan 2025 to 2027 and the IEBC Gazette notice of 20 August 2026, as summarised by ORPP. The IEBC can adjust operational dates, so confirm critical deadlines on the IEBC website before acting.

Who Can Register to Vote

You can register if you are a Kenyan citizen aged 18 or over with a national ID card or a valid Kenyan passport. Registration is biometric, so you must appear in person. The IEBC takes your fingerprints and photograph and records the polling station where you will vote.

• Now until 13 May 2027: register, transfer to a new polling station or update your details at the IEBC office in your constituency during continuous voter registration.
• 11 January to 9 February 2027: the IEBC runs a 30-day mass registration drive with temporary registration centres closer to residents. The centres are due to be gazetted on 25 November 2026.
• After 13 May 2027: registration is suspended so that the register can be audited, verified and certified for the election. You cannot register or transfer after that date.

If you have moved since 2022, you will still be registered at your old polling station unless you apply for a transfer. Do it before the suspension date.

How to Check Your Voter Registration

The IEBC runs an online voter verification portal at verify.iebc.or.ke, where you enter your ID or passport number and year of birth to see your registration details and polling station. In 2022 the IEBC also offered SMS verification on 70000 during its official verification window; check IEBC announcements for whether the SMS service is open before relying on it. Between 26 April and 25 May 2027 you can also confirm your biometric details at your registration centre. If anything is wrong, raise it with your constituency election office while claims are still being processed.

Six Elective Seats on the Ballot

Each voter casts six ballots: President, Governor, Senator, Member of the National Assembly, County Woman Member of the National Assembly and Member of the County Assembly for the ward. To win outright, a presidential candidate needs more than half of all valid votes and at least 25 per cent of the votes in more than half of the 47 counties. Each presidential candidate must also present the names, signatures and ID or passport numbers of at least 2,000 registered voters in each of a majority of counties.

Why Counties Matter on the Ballot

Four of the six seats are county positions, and county governments control large budgets. In 2026/27 the 47 counties share KSh 428 billion of national revenue before adding the money they raise locally. Our county allocations 2026/27 page shows each county’s share, and our county money pages for Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu and Machakos summarise what the Controller of Budget and the Auditor-General report about how that money is spent.

What the Election Calendar Means for Businesses

• Plan around August 2027. In past election years many businesses slowed orders, travel and hiring around polling day. Build stock and cash buffers for the weeks around 10 August 2027.
• Watch for a public holiday notice. Election Day is not automatically a public holiday. In 2022 the government declared polling day a public holiday by gazette notice, so watch for a similar notice in 2027 and plan staff rotas.
• Campaign spending and procurement. The campaign runs from 29 May to 7 August 2027. Printers, transport operators, event suppliers and media businesses often see demand rise. Contracts with candidates and parties should be in writing and paid through traceable channels, because campaign finance rules require candidates and parties to report spending.
• Government payments. Pending bills and slow payments are a long-running problem for suppliers to counties. Check a county’s record before taking on large orders in the run-up to the election.
• Staff who want to vie. Public officers who intend to contest must resign within the period set in the Elections Act. Private employers should agree leave arrangements early with any staff who plan to campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 election in Kenya?

Tuesday, 10 August 2027, the second Tuesday of August as set by the Constitution.

When is IEBC mass voter registration in 2027?

The Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration II drive is planned for 11 January to 9 February 2027. Continuous registration at constituency offices runs until 13 May 2027.

How do I check if I am a registered voter?

Use the IEBC voter verification portal at verify.iebc.or.ke with your ID or passport number and year of birth, or visit your constituency election office.

When does campaigning start?

The official campaign period is 29 May to 7 August 2027, ending 48 hours before Election Day.

Can I register to vote after May 2027?

No. Registration is suspended on 13 May 2027 so the register can be verified and certified.

Sources: Constitution of Kenya, Articles 101 and 136 to 138; IEBC Election Operation Plan 2025 to 2027 and Gazette notice of 20 August 2026; Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, Salient Processes and Timelines for the 10th August 2027 General Election (15 September 2026).