IEBC proposes new spending limits for candidates in 2027 polls
By Faith Lagat, July 6, 2026The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has proposed new campaign spending limits for candidates and political parties ahead of the 2027 General Election, with presidential aspirants capped at Ksh4.4 billion.
The draft regulations, released by the commission, seek to regulate campaign financing across all elective positions and provide expenditure ceilings based on the size and characteristics of electoral areas.
According to the proposals, presidential candidates will be allowed to spend a maximum of Ksh4.435 billion during the campaign period.
The commission has also proposed an overall spending limit of about Ksh17.7 billion for political parties participating in the elections.
Campaign expenditure
The proposed ceiling for political parties includes Ksh5.6 billion for ward campaigns, Ksh5.2 billion for constituency campaigns and Ksh2.44 billion for county campaigns.
The IEBC has identified transportation, media advertising and branding, campaign materials and payments to agents among the allowable campaign expenses.
The commission said the proposed limits were developed after considering the cost of running campaigns at different elective levels while taking into account factors such as population and geographical size.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission adopted a model that estimates average campaign costs while factoring in minimum fixed expenses required for candidates seeking elective office.
The draft regulations also contain provisions on campaign contributions and financial disclosures by candidates and political parties.
If approved, the regulations will require candidates and political parties to operate within the prescribed expenditure limits during the campaign period.
Higher ceilings for expansive regions
The proposed limits vary across counties and constituencies depending on geographical size and logistical demands.
Candidates contesting gubernatorial, senatorial and woman representative seats in Turkana County will have a maximum campaign expenditure of Ksh123 million. Higher spending ceilings have also been proposed for candidates in Nairobi, Marsabit and Wajir because of the size of the electoral areas.
North Horr Constituency in Marsabit County has a proposed expenditure limit of Ksh94 million.
In contrast, constituencies with smaller geographical coverage, including Tetu in Nyeri County, Kilgoris in Narok County and Kibra in Nairobi County, have proposed expenditure ceilings of below Ksh25 million.
Nyamira County has some of the lowest proposed spending limits among county elections under the draft regulations. The commission said the differentiated ceilings are intended to reflect the varying costs of reaching voters across different parts of the country.
Public participation
The draft regulations will undergo public participation before being submitted to Parliament for consideration and approval.
Once approved and gazetted, the commission plans to establish a monitoring team to oversee compliance with the campaign financing rules, including monitoring campaign income and expenditure.
The proposals come as the commission is also under parliamentary scrutiny over its financial obligations.
This comes a week after the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee directed the IEBC to submit a detailed breakdown of its Ksh3.77 billion pending bills.
“The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Hon. Tindi Mwale (Butere), has directed the management of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to provide details of all its pending bills. The directive was issued when top IEBC officials appeared before the Committee to respond to queries raised in the Auditor-General’s report for the 2023/2024 financial year,” a statement by the Parliament of Kenya read.
The amount includes Ksh2.66 billion in legal fees and Ksh1.11 billion for goods and services, with Ksh173.26 million incurred during the 2023/2024 financial year.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Moses Sunkuli, together with Commissioners Mary Sorobit, Prof. Francis Aduol and Alutala Mukhwana, appeared before the committee to respond to queries raised by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu.
The committee, chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, directed the commission to provide details of the pending bills, including the law firms involved and the amounts owed. Sunkuli told the committee the report would be submitted within two months.
If approved by Parliament, the new campaign financing regulations will apply to candidates and political parties participating in the 2027 General Election.