The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has called on interested groups to apply for accreditation ahead of a series of by-elections and other electoral work expected in the 2025/2026 financial year.
In a public notice published on Wednesday, the commission stated groups that are eligible can now apply to serve as voter education providers, observers in elections, or media practitioners.
"All applications should be done online through our Accreditation Management System (AMS) accessed via the IEBC website," the statement explained, adding that Friday, September 5, 2025, at 5p.m. is the deadline for submission.IEBC has instructed applicants to ensure that they have a reliable internet connection when uploading their files and that incomplete and late submissions shall not be accepted.
Organisations interested in voter education are required to first collect a Physical Address Authentication Form from the office of the County Election Manager where they plan to operate.
This form must be signed and stamped by the County Election Manager before being uploaded to the AMS portal along with the other required documents.
Only organisations that complete the process and receive formal accreditation will be allowed to take part in election-related activities.
The commission says accredited groups will undergo training and receive ID badges, accreditation certificates, and other relevant materials before they begin their work.
There are currently 23 pending by-elections across the country, including one Senate seat, six National Assembly seats, and 16 Member of County Assembly (MCA) positions.
However, the IEBC clarified that it cannot move forward with National Assembly and Senate by-elections until the Speakers of the two Houses issue official writs declaring the vacancies.
The commission noted that previous writs have already expired.
“We are engaging the Speakers to resolve this matter,” IEBC said in an earlier statement. “Once the writs are issued, we will proceed to announce and conduct the by-elections without delay.”