IEBC Issues Key Timelines For Political Parties, Independent Candidates, Presidential Elections 2022

The Commission on 20th January, 2022, published the Notice of General Election to be held on  9th August, 2022 vide Gazette Notice Nos. 430, 431, 432, 433, 434 and 435 carried in Vol. CXXIV No. 14, special issue of the Kenya Gazette. The said Notice outlines key statutory election  timelines that Political Parties and Independent Candidates should observe.  

Timelines for Political Parties  

The Commission draws the attention of political parties intending to participate in the upcoming  General Election to the following statutory timelines; 

1. Submit to the Commission a membership list certified by the Office of the Registrar Political  Parties (ORPP) on or before Saturday, 9th April, 2022, in the prescribed Form 11A of the  schedule to the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012 and an electronic version (Microsoft  Excel) at Anniversary Towers 21st floor between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  
2. Submit to the Commission the names of Aspirants, dates and venues of the nominations on  or before Saturday, 9th April, 2022. The submission shall be made in the prescribed Forms 11B (Presidential), 11C (Senate), 11D (County Woman Member to the National Assembly),  11E (Member of the National Assembly), 11F (County Governor) and 11G (County Assembly  Ward Member) of the schedule to the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012. The forms shall be delivered in printed copy and electronic version (Microsoft Excel) at Anniversary Towers 21st floor between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 
3. Conduct nominations and resolve any intra-party disputes on or before Friday, 22nd April,  2022.  
4. Submit the names of persons selected to contest in the General Election on or before  Thursday, 28th April, 2022 in the prescribed Forms 11H (Presidential), 11I (Senate), 11J  (County Woman Member to the National Assembly), 11K (Member of the National  Assembly), 11L (County Governor) and 11M (County Assembly Ward Member) of the  schedule to the Elections(General) Regulations, 2012. The forms shall be delivered in printed copy and electronic version (Microsoft Excel) at Anniversary Towers 21st floor between 8:00  a.m. and 5:00p.m. 

5. Submit to the Commission on or before 22nd April, 2022, the name(s) and specimen  signatures of authorized official(s) who shall certify to the Commission person(s) duly  nominated. The specimen signatures shall be delivered in printed copy and electronic form in a USB flash drive at Anniversary towers 21st floor between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 

Political parties are advised that:  

1. The Commission shall reject the candidature of any person nominated by a political party  for any elective position, if that candidate is not qualified or eligible for election under the  Constitution, the Elections Act, 2011 or any other written law.  
2. A Nomination Certificate issued to a candidate nominated to participate in the General  Election shall be signed by the duly authorized party official(s). 
3. The Commission shall reject a Nomination Certificate that is not duly signed and/or bears any alterations.

Timelines for Independent Candidates 

The attention of persons intending to participate in the General Election as Independent  Candidates is drawn to the following statutory timelines:  

1. Submit to the Commission a clearance certificate from the ORPP confirming that one is not a member of any registered political party on or before Monday 2nd May, 2022, at Anniversary  Towers 21st floor between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 
2. Submit to the Commission symbols they intend to use in the election on or before Monday,  2nd May, 2022 in the prescribed Form 11N (Intention to contest as Independent Candidate) and Form 11P (Submission of particulars and symbol by Independent Candidates), and an  electronic version of the symbol (JPEG- editable) at Anniversary Towers 21st floor between 8:00  a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 

Further, Independent Candidates are advised that:  

1. The Commission shall publish in the Kenya Gazette, the names and symbols of persons  intending to contest in the election as Independent Candidates on or before Friday, 13th May,  2022. 
2. Independent Candidates will proceed to the respective County and Constituency Offices to be issued with statutory forms for purposes of collecting particulars of their Supporters. 
3. Independent candidates are expected to deliver to the respective Returning Officers duly filled forms of Supporters, accompanied by corresponding copies of the identification documents of  the voters who have appended their signatures in support of their candidature.
4. The Commission shall reject the candidature of any Independent Candidate for any elective  post if the candidate is not qualified or eligible for election under the Constitution, the  Elections Act 2011 or any other written law.  

III. Presidential Election timelines 

Political Party sponsored candidates and Independent Candidates intending to participate in the  Presidential election shall: 

1. Collect statutory forms for purposes of collecting particulars of their Supporters at  Anniversary Towers 21st floor between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 
2. Deliver to the Commission on or before, Monday, 23rd May, 2022 at Anniversary Towers 21st floor between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. the following; 
3. Duly filled forms of Supporters bearing the names, signatures, identity cards/passport  numbers of at least 2,000 voters registered in each of a majority of the counties, ii. Corresponding copies of the identification documents of the voters who have appended  their signatures in support of their candidature, and 

iii. An electronic list of supporters in a Microsoft Excel spread sheet format. 

The Commission urges political parties and independent candidates to adhere to the timelines and shall periodically provide updates on General Election activities.