Election Countdown: 129 day to go

  • 1 Apr 2022
  • 3 Mins Read
  • 〜 by Kennedy Osore

Election timelines and activities 

ActivityTimeline
Resignation of public officers intending to vie for elective posts.9th February, 2022
Political Parties to submit party membership lists to the IEBC.9th April, 2022.
Political parties intending to present candidates in the election to submit the names of persons contesting in the party primaries, the date and venues of the primaries.9th April, 2022
A political party intending to present candidates through direct nominations or party primaries to submit the names of the persons nominated to contest in the election to the IEBC.28th April, 2022
Candidates intending to participate in this election as independent candidates to submit their names and symbols they intend to use during the election to the IEBC.2nd May, 2022
IEBC to publish in the Gazette, the names and symbols of persons intending to contest in the election as independent candidates.   13th May, 2022.
Presidential candidates deliver to IEBC a list of at least 2,000 voters registered in each of a majority of the counties.23rd May, 2022
Days for the nomination of political party candidates and independent candidates for the Presidential Election29th May, 2022 to 6th June, 2022.
Nomination of political party candidates and independent candidates for the National Assembly Elections.29th May, 2022 to 31st May, 2022
Nomination of political party candidates and independent candidates for the Senate Elections.29th May, 2022 to 31st May, 2022
Official campaign period.29th May, 2022 – 6th August, 2022
Nomination of political party candidates and independent candidates for the County Woman Member to the National Assembly elections.1st June, 2022 to 3rd June, 2022.
Nomination of political party candidates and independent candidates for the County Assembly Elections.1st June, 2022 to 7th June, 2022.
Nomination of political party candidates and independent candidates for the County Governor Elections.4th June, 2022 to 7th June, 2022
Lodging and determination of disputes arising from nominations9th June, 2022
Political parties participating in the General Election to submit their Party List to IEBC25th June, 2022
Political parties and candidates to appoint and submit to the IEBC the names of the County Tallying Centre Election Agents25th July, 2022
For presidential elections, political parties and candidates to be appointed and submit the names of the National and Constituency Chief Election Agents to IEBC.25th July, 2022
General Election day9th August, 2022

Significant political event of the week:

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Kenya rendered its much-awaited judgement on the BBI appeal. We summarise below the decision of the apex court based on the seven issues that were up for determination:

  1. The basic structure doctrine is not applicable in Kenya.
  2. The President cannot initiate Constitutional amendments/changes through the popular initiative under Article 257 of the Constitution. The President initiated the amendment process in issue and consequently, under Article 257 of the Constitution, the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2020 is unconstitutional.
  3. The Second Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is unconstitutional for being in breach of Articles 10 (2) and 89 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
  4. Civil proceedings cannot be instituted in any court against the President or the person performing the functions of the office of the President, during their tenure of office in respect of anything done or not done under the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
  5. Under Article 10 and 257 (4) of the Constitution, there was no obligation on IEBC to ensure that the promoters of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 complied with the requirements for public participation. Further, there was public participation with respect to the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020).
  6. IEBC had the requisite composition and quorum to undertake the verification process under Article 257(4).
  7. The question raised regarding the interpretation of Article 257 (10) of the Constitution on whether or not it entails/ requires that all specific proposed amendments to the Constitution should be submitted as separate and distinct referendum questions was not ripe for determination.

Next upcoming significant event: 

  • Political Parties to submit party membership lists to the IEBC on  April 9,  2022.
  • Political parties that intend to present candidates in the election to submit the names of persons contesting in the party primaries, the date and venues of the primaries on April 9, 2022.
  • Political parties that intend to present candidates through direct nominations or party primaries to submit the names of the persons nominated to contest in the election to the IEBC on April 28, 2022.