IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon / HANDOUTIndependent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has announced November 17, 2026, as the date for the Migwani Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) by-election in Mwingi West Constituency, Kitui County.
Ethekon said the by-election follows the declaration of a vacancy in the office of MCA for Migwani Ward by the Speaker on August 6, 2026.
In a gazette notice dated September 22, 2026, Ethekon said the election will be conducted in accordance with the Constitution, the Elections Act and the Elections (General) Regulations.
A public officer intending to contest the seat is required to resign from public office within seven days of the declaration of the vacancy.
Political parties intending to participate in the by-election have until Wednesday, September 30, 2026, to submit the names of persons who will contest in their party primaries and the dates of the primaries.
The same deadline applies to political parties submitting the names and specimen signatures of their authorised officials to the Commission.
Independent candidates are required to submit their names and the symbols they intend to use in the by-election to the IEBC by September 30.
The Commission will publish in the Kenya Gazette the names of persons contesting in party primaries and the dates of the primaries within seven days of receiving the information.
Candidates seeking to contest as independents must not have been members of any political party for at least three months immediately before the date of the by-election.
Political parties intending to present candidates through indirect nominations must submit their nominated candidates to the Commission by Monday, October 12.
Parties conducting primaries must resolve all intra-party disputes and submit their final lists of nominated candidates to the IEBC by the same date.
The Commission has set Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22 as the nomination dates for political party and independent candidates.
Nomination papers will be delivered to the Returning Officer between 8 am and 1 pm and between 2 pm and 4 pm at a venue designated by the Commission.
Ethekon said disputes arising from the Commission’s nomination process must be lodged within 24 hours of the occurrence and, in any event, no later than Friday, October 23.
The disputes will be determined within 10 days of being lodged and no later than Monday, November 2.
The campaign period will run from Wednesday, October 21 to Saturday, November 14, 2026, with campaign activities permitted between 7 am and 6 pm each day.
Participating political parties and independent candidates must submit the names of their constituency election agents and polling station agents to the Commission by Tuesday, November 3.
The IEBC has also suspended registration and revision of the voter register for Migwani Ward until Thursday, December 17, 2026.
If the election is contested, polling will take place on Tuesday, November 17, in the respective electoral areas within Migwani Ward.
Ethekon reminded candidates and political parties of their obligation to comply with the Electoral Code of Conduct under the Elections Act, as well as the relevant provisions of Chapter Six of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act.
Candidates were also reminded of provisions governing public fundraising and harambee under the Elections Act.
