The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has formally dismissed a fabricated document circulating on social media that claimed two United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates had been declared winners ahead of the scheduled November 27, 2025, by-elections. In a statement released via its official social media channels on Thursday, October 23, 2025, the electoral body flagged the notice as “fake” and urged the Kenyan public to disregard its contents.

The fraudulent notice, titled “Declaration of No Contest for Members of Tembelio and Metkei Wards,” alleged that the UDA candidates for the two wards—Ruben Kigen Tobosei in Tembelio and Philip Kipkosgei Kiprutto in Metkei—had been duly elected unopposed. The document, which falsely invoked constitutional and electoral laws, claimed no other candidates had been cleared to contest, a claim the IEBC has now nullified.

Widespread By-Elections Amid Integrity Concerns

This incident of disinformation comes as the nation prepares for a significant number of by-elections, all scheduled by the IEBC for Thursday, November 27, 2025. These polls will fill vacancies for one senatorial seat in Baringo County, six Member of Parliament seats, and 16 Member of County Assembly (MCA) positions across the country. The parliamentary contests will be held in Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja constituencies.

The vacancies in the two wards mentioned in the fake notice arose from unique circumstances. The Tembelio Ward seat in Uasin Gishu County became vacant after its former MCA, Evans Kapkea, was elevated to the position of Deputy Governor in 2024. In Elgeyo Marakwet County, the Metkei Ward seat was vacated when the sitting MCA, Lawi Kipng’etich Kibire, resigned in February 2025 to become the County Assembly Speaker.

The circulation of the fake notice has amplified existing public concerns regarding electoral integrity in Kenya. A national survey conducted by TIFA Research between August and September 2025 revealed that 48% of Kenyans lacked confidence in the IEBC's capacity to deliver a free and fair election in 2027, with many citing political interference and a general lack of trust in the commission as primary reasons for their skepticism. These by-elections are widely seen as a critical test for the newly constituted commission, which operated without commissioners for an extended period, causing significant delays in filling vacant electoral positions.

Official Timelines and a Call for Vigilance

The IEBC has established a clear timeline for the electoral process, with the official campaign period having commenced on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Candidates are permitted to campaign daily between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. EAT until Monday, November 24, 2025, which is 48 hours before polling day. The commission has already cleared numerous candidates from various political parties, including the two UDA aspirants who were falsely named as winners in the debunked notice.

In its official communication, the IEBC reiterated its commitment to a transparent process and advised citizens to rely exclusively on its official website and verified social media accounts for accurate information regarding the upcoming polls. The incident underscores the growing challenge of combating disinformation in a high-stakes political environment, placing a greater responsibility on both the electoral body and the public to verify information. The contests for all 23 vacancies, including those in Tembelio and Metkei wards, will proceed as scheduled on November 27.