The official campaign period for 24 critical by-elections across Kenya concluded at 6:00 p.m. EAT on Monday, November 24, 2025, shifting the nation's focus squarely onto the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The commission is now tasked with overseeing a peaceful and transparent polling day on Thursday, November 27, 2025, for a total of 181 candidates vying for one Senate seat, six National Assembly positions, and 17 Member of County Assembly (MCA) wards.

These by-elections represent the first significant electoral undertaking for the new commission, led by Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, who was appointed in June 2025 following a nearly two-and-a-half-year vacancy at the helm of the electoral body. The polls are widely viewed as a litmus test for the IEBC's operational readiness and its ability to manage a complex electoral process, setting the political tone ahead of the 2027 General Election.

High-Stakes Contests and Logistical Hurdles

The electoral contests are spread across the country, with key races including the Baringo County senatorial seat and parliamentary positions in Magarini, Banissa, Mbeere North, Malava, Ugunja, and Kasipul constituencies. The vacancies arose from various circumstances, including court nullifications and the deaths of incumbent officeholders. The campaigns, which ran from October 8 to November 24, have been intense, occasionally marked by violence. In Kasipul, clashes led to two deaths, while reports of intimidation surfaced in other areas, prompting the National Police Service to issue a “zero-tolerance for violence or hate speech” warning.

The IEBC has reported that it is fully prepared for the polls, having commenced the dispatch of ballot papers and other sensitive materials from its national warehouse in Nairobi. According to IEBC Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan, 39 pallets of ballot papers were received from the printer and confirmed for distribution as of November 22. Chairperson Ethekon confirmed that materials for remote or high-risk areas like Banisa would be airlifted to ensure timely delivery and security. The commission has also been conducting training for electoral officials and coordinating with security agencies to ensure a smooth process.

A Test of Electoral Integrity

The by-elections are taking place against a backdrop of persistent public concerns over the cost of living, government corruption, and political stability, issues that have fueled significant youth-led protests in 2024 and 2025. This political climate places immense pressure on the IEBC to deliver an outcome that is, and is seen to be, free, fair, and credible. The performance of the new commission will be critical in rebuilding public trust, which has been a significant challenge for the electoral body in past election cycles.

Analysts and civil society groups, such as the Elections Observation Group (ELOG), are framing these polls as a vital stress test of Kenya's entire electoral ecosystem. Key indicators being watched include voter confidence, the professionalism of the IEBC and police, the capacity of political parties like the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and the Azimio la Umoja opposition to deploy agents, and the overall integrity of the vote-tallying and transmission process.

The high number of candidates, particularly in some MCA wards like Kariobangi North in Nairobi and Chewani in Tana River County which each have 16 nominees, underscores the competitive nature of Kenyan politics and adds to the logistical complexity for the IEBC. As IEBC officials, including CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, supervise the final arrangements on the ground, all eyes will be on the commission's ability to navigate these challenges and uphold Kenya's democratic principles this Thursday.