Top on the list is the submission of specimen signatures for nomination certificates, which must be filed with the Registrar by September 17. In addition, parties are required to certify their membership registers with the ORPP prior to the polls.
To strengthen transparency, political parties must also publicize their nomination details — including venues, dates, methods, and lists of members to be nominated on their websites and ensure the same information is uploaded on the ORPP portal. The information must be made public at least seven days before the nomination exercise.
Further, the ORPP directed parties to set up election management bodies and establish internal dispute resolution committees within their structures. They must also submit detailed lists of their nomination activities to the ORPP in line with timelines provided by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The final requirement compels all parties to adhere strictly to existing legal frameworks, including the elections code of conduct, gazette notices, and regulations issued by the electoral agencies.
The IEBC has confirmed that 24 by-elections will take place at ward, constituency, and senatorial levels. Vacant seats include Member of County Assembly (MCA) positions in Kariobangi North (Nairobi), Chemundu (Nandi), and Purko (Kajiado), as well as parliamentary seats in Banissa, Magarini, and Mbeere North constituencies. The Baringo senatorial seat is also up for grabs.
With timelines tightening and scrutiny heightened, political parties have been warned that non-compliance with these requirements could lead to disqualification from the hotly contested mini-polls.
