The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that by-elections will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, to fill three vacant seats in Emurua Dikirr Constituency in Narok County, Porro Ward in Samburu West Constituency, and Endo Ward in Marakwet East Constituency, Elgeyo/Marakwet County.

The announcement was made through a special issue of the Kenya Gazette published on March 13, 2026, and signed by IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon.

The Emurua Dikirr parliamentary seat became vacant on March 10, 2026, following the death of area MP Johana Kipyegon Ng’eno in a helicopter crash on February 28, 2026, in Chepkiep area of Mosop Constituency, Nandi County. He died alongside five others.

“Following the declaration of vacancies that occurred in the offices of Member of County Assembly for Porro Ward, Samburu West Constituency, Samburu County on 5th January, 2026, Endo Ward, Marakwet East Constituency, Elgeyo/Marakwet County on the 27th January, 2026 and Member of National Assembly for Emurua Dikirr Constituency, Narok County on the 10th March, 2026 and notices issued by the respective Speakers, there shall be byelections in the above listed electoral areas on Thursday, the 14th May, 2026,” read in part.

Ng’eno, a three-term legislator, had championed the creation of Emurua Dikirr as a constituency and served the area for several years.

The Porro Ward Member of County Assembly seat in Samburu County was declared vacant on January 5, 2026. The Endo Ward MCA seat in Elgeyo/Marakwet County fell vacant on January 27, 2026 following the death of MCA Jeremiah Biwott Toryebee.

Electoral roadmap and key deadlines

In the Gazette notice, IEBC outlined timelines for the by-elections to guide political parties, independent candidates and voters.

Political parties are required to submit the names of candidates for party primaries and indicate the dates of the primaries by March 25, 2026. Independent candidates must also submit their names and symbols by the same date and must not have been members of any political party for at least three months before the election.

Public officers intending to contest must resign within seven days of the declaration of the vacancy. Party nominations and the resolution of intra-party disputes must be completed, with lists submitted to IEBC by April 7, 2026.

Formal nomination of candidates by the commission will take place on April 15 and April 16, 2026. Any disputes arising from the nominations must be filed by April 17 and resolved by April 25, 2026.

Campaigns will run from April 15 to May 11, 2026, ending 48 hours before polling day. Campaign activities will take place daily between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Political parties and independent candidates are also required to appoint election agents by April 30, 2026.

Preparations and electoral guidelines

The commission has suspended voter registration and voter register revision in the affected areas until June 12, 2026. Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers have already been appointed to oversee the by-elections in each electoral unit.

The Emurua Dikirr by-election alone is projected to cost about Ksh59 million as part of the commission’s electoral operations budget.

Early indications show growing interest in the Emurua Dikirr contest, with political actors preparing for party nominations ahead of the polls.

The IEBC has urged candidates, parties and voters to comply with the Constitution, the Elections Act and the Electoral Code of Conduct during the campaign period to ensure peaceful and credible elections.