Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has called for a review of the requirement that public officers resign from their positions before vying for elective office, arguing that the current rule unfairly disadvantages those who fail to secure election.

In a statement on his X account on Friday, June 26, 2026, Olekina said public officers seeking political office should be allowed to remain in their positions until they are successfully elected, after which they would be required to resign before assuming their new roles.

“Public officers seeking elective office should not be required to resign prematurely. While the Constitution guarantees political rights, it also requires public officers to uphold neutrality, integrity, and public confidence in office,” Olekina stated.

Disadvantage for those not elected

According to Olekina, the existing requirement for public officers to leave office months before elections unnecessarily penalises individuals who wish to contest elective positions but are ultimately unsuccessful.

“A fair approach is to allow them to remain in service until they are duly elected, and then resign upon successful election, rather than forcing an early exit that may unnecessarily penalise those who are not elected,” he said.

IEBC guidelines for 2027 candidates

Olekina’s remarks come a day after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) unveiled the roadmap for Kenya’s 2027 General Election, confirming that the country will head to the polls on Tuesday, August 10, 2027.

The election date is contained in the Commission’s newly launched Election Operations Plan (EOP) for the 2027 General Election, a comprehensive framework designed to guide the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of all activities leading up to the national vote.

Among the critical timelines outlined in the plan is the constitutional requirement that any public officer intending to contest in the 2027 General Election must resign from public office at least six months before the election date.

According to the IEBC, the deadline for resignation will be Tuesday, February 9, 2027.