IEBC sets Sh6.1 billion as presidential election spending limit

• IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon during the signing of the UN Elections support document on July 23, 2026.[Benard Orwongo, Standard]

It is exactly one year to the next General Election and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is setting the ball rolling, with the latest being to gazette the campaign financing regulations 2026 and the spending limits.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon announced the gazettement of election campaign financing Regulations, 2026 and the contribution and spending limits for candidates and political parties applicable to the General Election scheduled for August 10, 2027.

“The gazettement marks a significant milestone in the discharge of the Commission’s constitutional mandate under Article 88(4)(i) of the Constitution and implementation of the Election Campaign Financing Act, 2013, which provide for the regulation of campaign financing and the amount of money that may be spent by or on behalf of candidates and political parties in respect of an election,” said Ethekon.

IEBC has set a spending limit of about Sh6.1 billion for anyone intending to vie for the presidential seat in the 2027 General Election, covering a population of about 47.5 million and 585,307 square kilometers.

The second schedule of the regulations highlights the county election, covering Governor, Senator, County Woman Member.

For each of the three positions, the highest spending limit is in Nairobi, set at Sh181.3 million followed by Turkana at Sh142 million then Marsabit at Sh127 million, the Wajir with Sh120.7 million, Kiambu follows with 110.9 million then Garissa with Sh106 million.

Among the lowest spending for each of the three positions has been set at Sh28.6 million in Lamu, Sh32.2 in Tharaka Nithi, Sh35.6 million in Elgeyo Marakwet, Sh36.6 million in Vihiga, Sh38.1 million in Nyamira and Sh38.8 million in Kirinyaga.

For the Member of the National Assembly, the IEBC has set the highest spending limit in North Horr at Sh100.4 million, Wajir South with Sh73 million, Turkana North constituency at Sh59.7 million, some Sh59.4 in Laisamis, Turkana West at 56.3 million, Isiolo North some Sh53.2 million, Turkana East with Sh51.3 million.

Among the lowest spending is in Wundayi at Sh15.4, Kangundo at Sh16.7 million, Sh16.74 in Mathioya, Lamu East with Sh16.9 million, Sh17 million Vihiga, Sh17.1 in Emuhaya, Kathiani with Sh17.5 million, Sh17.9 million in Gatundu South, Sh17.6 million in Gatundu North, Rabai with Sh18.1 million, Maara at Sh18.2 million, Sh18.3 million in Changamwe and Sh19.4 for Mvita among others.

The spending limit for the 1,450 County Assembly Ward elections ranges from about Sh15 million to Sh3 million.

At the same time, the IEBC set Sh24.4 billion as the political parties’ spending limit, with the bulk of the money expected to go towards transportation at Sh16.1 billion, advertising and media at Sh2.5 billion, Sh2 billion for election agents and administrative cost at Sh1.2 billion.

Other high spending will be on venues, capping set at Sh375 million, for campaign personnel at Sh332.9 million, security at Sh285 million and Sh213.8 million for nomination fees and charges.

The unit cost at each electoral level is therefore determined from the idea quota for population and land area as follows: unit cost for population at each electoral level equals the total average campaign cost at each electoral level less fixed costs times weight of population (70 per cent)/population quota at each electoral level,” the IEBC has explained.

“The unit cost for land at each electoral level equals the total average campaign cost at each electoral level less fixed costs times weight of land area (30 per cent)/land area quota at each electoral level.”

Ethekon said that pursuant to section 12 (2) of the of the Election Campaign Financing Act, 2013, a contribution from a single source is limited to twenty percent of the total contributions in the Schedules above.

“The attention of candidates is drawn to the provisions of section 18(7) of the Election Campaign Financing Act, 2013 that a candidate who or a political party committee which exceeds the prescribed spending limits and fails to report this fact to the Commission commits an offence,” said the Chairperson.

IEBC urged candidates and political party committees to also take into consideration of provisions of sections 23 and 24 of the Election Campaign Financing Act, 2013 that a person convicted of an offence under this Act for which no penalty is provided shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh2 million shillings or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to both.

Ethekon also explained that the development and gazettement of the framework follows a decision of the High Court in Constitutional Petition No. E540 of 2021, as consolidated with E546 of 2021, Katiba Institute and three others vs IEBC and three others, which challenged, among other matters, revocation by Parliament of provisions relating to campaign financing following the publication of contribution and spending limits on August 9, 2021.

In its determination, the Court directed the Commission develops the requisite regulations, subject them to public participation and establish the necessary framework for setting contribution and spending limits pursuant to the Election Campaign Financing Act, 2013.

 “Pursuant to the Court’s decision and in fulfilment of its statutory mandate, the Commission undertook a comprehensive review and development of the campaign financing regulatory framework to facilitate its operationalization for the 2027 General Election,” he explained, in a statement.

Last month, the Commission invited the public to submit memoranda through a public notice, with political parties, aspiring candidates, civil society organizations, State actors, marginalized groups, development partners and other election stakeholders taking part in the county cluster process.

“The views, proposals and recommendations received through the public participation and stakeholder engagement process were carefully considered and, where appropriate, incorporated into the final instruments,” he said.

With publication in the Kenya Gazette, the Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026  and the Contribution and Spending Limits for the 2027 General Election now constitute the applicable regulatory framework for campaign financing for the forthcoming General Election.

“The gazettement marks the transition from regulatory development and consultation to implementation and enforcement,” he said.

The Regulations establish the framework for the regulation and disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditure, record-keeping and reporting, auditing, monitoring, compliance and enforcement. The Contribution and Spending Limits prescribe the applicable ceilings on campaign expenditure by candidates and political parties.

Political parties, candidates, campaign teams and supporting persons or organizations are required to familiarize themselves with the applicable legal requirements and take the necessary measures to ensure compliance.