The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has sounded the alarm over a Sh258 million funding gap that could stall eight by-elections set for November 27, 2025, out of 24 pending polls across the country.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission requires Sh1.046 billion to conduct all the by-elections but has so far received only Sh888 million from the National Treasury.
He explained that while 16 by-elections have already been funded at a cost of Sh788 million, eight remain without funding, leaving a shortfall of Sh258 million.
“We have a total of 24 by-elections. The ones that are funded are 16, and the total funding for those by-elections is Sh788 million. The eight remaining ones that have not been funded amount to Sh258 million, so in terms of total costs, we are looking at Sh1.046 billion for the purpose of by-elections,” Ethekon told the committee, which is chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale.
The polls are meant to fill 23 vacant positions nationwide, including six National Assembly seats, one Senate seat, and 16 county assembly seats left empty through deaths or appointments to other roles. Key contests include the Baringo County Senate race and parliamentary seats in Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja.
Ethekon assured the lawmakers that talks with the Treasury are underway to unlock the additional funds.
“The 16 had been provided for. We sought a meeting with the National Treasury, and we raised the matter of the additional eight, 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,” he said.
Mwale asked the commission to highlight areas where MPs could step in to support its preparations.
“We also want to know as Members of Parliament where you need help or a boost so that we have a free and fair election,” she said.
Ethekon maintained that the commission is prepared to deliver.
“We believe we will give Kenyans a very good by-election as a test run for the 2027 General Election,” he said.
Alongside the by-election plans, the IEBC is preparing to roll out a major voter registration drive targeting about 6.3 million new voters, with young people expected to form 70 per cent of the new registrants. This would push the voter register from 22.5 million in 2022 to nearly 29 million by 2027.
On the boundaries review exercise, Ethekon acknowledged that while the legal questions could be addressed, carrying it out would pose practical and financial hurdles.
“We can resolve the legality, but the practicality—for example, we will also require a budget to undertake this, and you know it is not a cheap exercise,” he said in response to Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda.
Meanwhile, activity at the IEBC headquarters in Nairobi picked up on Wednesday as independent candidates submitted names and symbols ahead of the by-elections. Political parties have until September 17 to submit candidate lists, while public officers seeking to contest must resign within seven days. Independent candidates are required to have severed ties with political parties for at least three months before applying.
The campaign period for the by-elections will run from October 8 to November 24, with rallies permitted between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm. Candidate agents are expected to submit their names at least 14 days before the elections to allow time for vetting and training.
