Electoral Commission shifts presidential nomination dates for 2025/2026 elections, citing campaign period concerns
Originally slated for October 2nd and 3rd, 2025, presidential nominations will now take place earlier, on September 23rd and 24th, 2025.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced a significant adjustment to the timeline for the 2025/2026 General Elections, bringing forward the nomination dates for presidential candidates. Originally slated for October 2nd and 3rd, 2025, presidential nominations will now take place earlier, on September 23rd and 24th, 2025.
According to a statement released by the Commission, this adjustment was deemed necessary to ensure sufficient time for critical post-nomination processes and to allow presidential aspirants an adequate period for their campaigns.
“The Commission has made this adjustment after taking into account the post-nomination processes that have to be concluded before the candidates get on the campaign trail,” the EC stated. These crucial processes include the capturing of presidential nomination returns, the production of ballot paper samples, the harmonisation of campaign programs, and the signing of a Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) by all nominated candidates.
The EC explained that maintaining the original nomination dates would have “drastically reduced the period available for the campaigns” once these necessary post-nomination activities were completed.
In addition to the presidential nomination change, the Electoral Commission took the opportunity to remind all aspirants for various elective positions and the general public of other key dates outlined in the Roadmap for the General Elections:
Key Dates for 2025/2026 General Elections:
- Nomination of Candidates for Local Governments (including SIGs): September 3rd – 12th, 2025
- Nomination of Candidates for Parliamentary Elections: September 16th – 17th, 2025
- New Nomination Dates for Presidential Elections: September 23rd – 24th, 2025
- Nomination of Candidates for SIGs Representatives to Local Governments: December 8th – 12th, 2025
Campaign Periods:
- Presidential Campaigns: October 4th, 2025 – January 12th, 2026
- Parliamentary Campaigns: September 23rd, 2025 – January 12th, 2026
- Local Governments (including SIGs) Campaigns: September 13th, 2025 – January 12th, 2026
Polling Period:
Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Councils (City/District; Municipality/City Division; and Sub County, Town, Municipal Division), including SIGs Representatives: January 12th – February 9th, 2026
The Commission urged all political parties and organisations, as well as independent aspirants, to carefully observe these timelines.
Furthermore, the EC advisory highlighted critical pre-nomination procedures. For presidential candidates, Section 10(b) of the Presidential Elections Act mandates that a candidate’s nomination must be supported by at least one hundred (100) registered voters from each of at least two-thirds (2/3) of all districts in the country, which translates to approximately 97 districts.
The Commission stated that it would soon announce the start date for collecting the Supporter Forms, along with the timelines for signature collection and submission for verification. Additionally, the start date for collecting Nomination Forms for the Parliamentary and Local Government Councils Elections, along with relevant nomination guidelines, will be announced in due course.
