How Kenya's electoral system works: six ballots, terms and the 50%+1 rule
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission; Constitution of Kenya · sources read 4 Oct 2026
Kenya holds a general election every five years, on the second Tuesday in August, and on that day you elect leaders for six positions. Governors, MPs and MCAs win by getting the most votes, while a presidential candidate needs more than half of all votes plus at least 25% in more than half of the counties.
- Deadline
- 10 Aug 2027 Next general election: Tuesday 10 August 2027.
- Where
- Register and vote through the IEBC: any of the 290 constituency offices, 57 Huduma Centres or the Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers, Nairobi; details on iebc.or.ke.
Steps
- Every five years: the general election is on the second Tuesday in August, and Parliament's term ends at the next general election.
- Six ballots on one day: President, Governor, Senator, County Woman Member of the National Assembly, MP and MCA. The next election is on 10 August 2027.
- Most votes wins (first past the post): for governor, the candidate with the greatest number of votes is declared elected. MPs and MCAs are also declared on the majority of votes cast.
- To win the presidency a candidate needs more than half of all votes cast and at least 25% of the votes in each of more than half of the counties (at least 24 of 47).
- If no one meets both tests, a fresh election (run-off) between the top two is held within 30 days.
Watch out
- A President can serve at most two terms.
- Not every seat is on the ballot: 12 National Assembly members are nominated by parties in proportion to their seats.
- There is no separate vote for deputy governor: the governor's running mate is declared elected with them.
Who this covers
- Kenyan citizens aged 18 or over, with a national ID card or Kenyan passport, can register and vote.
Official sources (4)
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 parliament.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Elections Act, No. 24 of 2011 (Revised Edition 2019) iebc.or.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Press Release: Status Update of Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration as at 23 April 2026 iebc.or.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Gazette Notice No. 7394 of 2026: Declaration of Persons Elected in the By-Elections held on 14 May 2026 iebc.or.ke · read 4 Oct 2026