The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to implement comprehensive regulations mandating politicians and political parties to transparently declare and account for all campaign funds ahead of Kenya's 2027 General Election.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon announced on July 30, 2026, during the final public consultation on the Draft Election Campaign Financing Regulations 2026, that the commission aims to finalize and gazette these rules by August 2026. Following gazettement, the regulations will be presented to parliament's committee on delegated legislation for approval.

Key Provisions of the Proposed Regulations

  • Mandatory opening of designated campaign financing accounts monitored by IEBC.
  • Appointment and registration of authorised persons responsible for managing campaign funds.
  • Detailed reporting of all donations and contributions received during campaigns.
  • Submission of campaign finance reports for external audits after each election cycle.
  • Imposition of contribution and spending limits to ensure fair competition.

Ethekon emphasized that these measures aim to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability in electoral financing. He noted that the regulations will help prevent undue financial influence on election outcomes, ensuring voters' free will prevails.

Addressing Past Challenges

The IEBC chair acknowledged previous difficulties in operationalizing the Election Campaign Finance Act of 2013 during the 2017 and 2022 elections. However, with support from Transparency International Kenya and the Local Government Internal Audit (LGIA), the commission is confident of overcoming these hurdles to enforce the new framework effectively.

Context on Political Fundraising

As political fundraising intensifies ahead of the 2027 polls, movements like Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwanachi have actively collected public contributions. The movement has raised over KSh 6.5 million via a Paybill number and spent approximately KSh 2.5 million on rallies across 16 counties. Under the forthcoming IEBC rules, such fundraising activities will require formal recording, reporting, and auditing to ensure compliance.