Election Countdown: 151 days to go

  • 11 Mar 2022
  • 3 Mins Read
  • 〜 by Amrit Labhuram

Election timelines and activities 

ActivityTimeline
Resignation of public officers intending to vie for elective posts9th February, 2022
Political Parties to submit party membership lists to the IEBC9th 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 primaries9th 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 IEBC2nd 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 counties23rd 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 Elections29th May, 2022 to 31st May, 2022
Nomination of political party candidates and independent candidates for the Senate Elections29th May, 2022 to 31st May, 2022
Official campaign period29th 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 Elections1st 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 appoint and submit the names of the National and Constituency Chief Election Agents to IEBC25th July, 2022
General Election day9th August, 2022

Significant political event of the week:

Following the incident of a female foreign diplomat being sexualy harassed by boda boda operators on Friday, March 4, an unprecedented nationwide crackdown has been initiated against the riders. On March 8, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered all boda boda operators to be registered afresh. Further, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i convened a meeting with the riders on March 9, where he informed their representatives that the government is out to reform the sector.

According to the NTSA and Ministry of Interior, commercial boda boda operators are expected to possess a smart rider’s licence, obtain a certificate of good conduct, and belong to a registered boda boda sacco. The operators have been given 60 days to comply with new requirements, and has been aided by the government waiving the previous Kshs 5,800 registration fee. 

The momentous nature of the reforms to the sector has presented an opportunity for the Tangatanga movement to pivot the conversation away from sectoral reform to hustler politics. The boda boda operators are generally considered part of the ‘hustler’ populace, as such, the Tangatanga movement has capitalised on the drastic measures adopted by the current government as a ploy to affect the common mwananchi. Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro stated the government is being discriminative by targeting boda boda operators across the country 

A segment of politicians from the Hustler movement have made remarks calling on the President to retract the reforms and ease the crackdown on the boda boda operators. On social media, netizens have been seen to suggest that the majority of boda boda operators might belong to the UDA party. This remains a potential flashpoint as we countdown the days to the August polls. 

Next upcoming significant event: 

  • Political Parties to submit party membership lists to the IEBC on  April 9,  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