The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has thrown a lifeline to unemployed Kenyan youth, announcing thousands of temporary vacancies ahead of the high-stakes by-elections scheduled for February 26, 2026.

With the cost of living biting hard, the commission's recruitment drive offers a brief but lucrative respite. The polls, set to take place in Isiolo South Constituency, as well as wards in Embu and Kakamega, require a robust workforce to ensure credibility. The application window is tight, slamming shut on Monday, January 26.

The Opportunities on the Table

In a notice issued on Wednesday, the electoral body detailed the roles up for grabs, with daily wages that dwarf the average casual labor rates in the country:

• Presiding Officers (PO): Tasked with managing the polling station, earning KES 2,000 per day.
• Deputy Presiding Officers (DPO): The second-in-command, taking home KES 1,800 daily.
• Support Electoral Trainers (SETs): Crucial for preparing the workforce, also paid KES 2,000 per day.
• Polling/Counting Clerks: The foot soldiers of the election, vital for the integrity of the vote.

Strict Requirements

"Applicants must be residents of the constituency or ward where they intend to serve," the IEBC notice reads, a measure aimed at curbing the importation of voters and staff that has marred previous elections. Candidates must also be non-partisan—a tall order in a politically charged environment—and computer literate to handle the KIEMS kits.

For the youth in Isiolo, Embu, and Kakamega, this is more than just a civic duty; it is a chance to earn. Interested candidates have been directed to the IEBC jobs portal to submit their applications before the deadline expires.