IEBC appoints officers for Feb 2026 by-elections

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The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has appointed returning officers and deputy returning officers to oversee by-elections scheduled for February 26, 2026.

The by-elections will include the Member of Parliament seat for Isiolo South constituency, as well as Member of County Assembly (MCA) positions in Muminji and Evurore wards in Mbeere North constituency, Embu County.

An additional MCA by-election will also be held in Kabras West Ward in Malava constituency, Kakamega County.

All the by-elections are set to take place on the same day.

For the Isiolo South parliamentary by-election, the Commission has appointed Ali Wario Ibrahim as the returning officer, with Ann Makandi serving as the deputy returning officer.

In Embu County, Njeru Curtis Mawria has been named the returning officer for the Muminji and Evurore ward by-elections, assisted by Charity Kinya Gitonga as the deputy returning officer.

In Kakamega County’s Kabras West Ward, the IEBC has appointed Salim Abdallah William as the returning officer, while Barasa Simon Makokha will serve as the deputy returning officer.

The appointments were formally communicated through a gazette notice issued by IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon.

Ethekon also outlined key timelines and requirements for political parties, independent candidates, and other stakeholders participating in the by-elections.

According to the notice, political parties intending to field candidates must submit the names of those contesting in party primaries, as well as the dates of the primaries, on or before January 2, 2026.

The same deadline applies to independent candidates seeking to vie in the by-elections.

“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 January 2, 2026,” Ethekon said.

The commission will then publish, in the Kenya Gazette, the names and symbols of independent candidates within seven days of receiving the submissions.

This step is intended to enhance transparency and allow voters to familiarise themselves with the candidates ahead of the campaign period.

IEBC further announced that the official campaign period will begin on January 22, 2026, and end on February 23, 2026, which is 48 hours before the by-election day.

Campaign activities will be restricted to between 7.00 am and 6.00 pm each day throughout the campaign period.

In preparation for polling day, participating political parties and independent candidates will be required to appoint and submit to the commission the name of one Constituency Election Agent, as well as polling station agents, on or before February 12, 2026.

The commission confirmed that it will use the certified Register of Voters published on June 21, 2022, for the conduct of the by-elections.

All candidates, political parties, and individuals involved in the electoral process will be required to subscribe to and observe the Electoral Code of Conduct as set out in the Second Schedule to the Elections Act, Cap 7.

IEBC cautioned that any person found guilty of committing an election offence will be subject to penalties prescribed under the Election Offences Act, Cap 66, as well as any disqualifications provided for under the Constitution of Kenya.