An independent candidate is a person who contests an election without being nominated by a political party. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) outlines specific requirements for independent candidates contesting different elective positions.
General Requirements for All Independent Candidates
✔ Not a member of a political party – Must obtain a clearance certificate from the Registrar of Political Parties confirming they were not a member of any political party for at least three months before the election date.
✔ Declaration of Intent – Submit a Form of Intention to Contest in the prescribed form to IEBC.
✔ Approval of Election Symbol – Submit a unique election symbol for approval by IEBC in accordance with Section 32 of the Elections Act, 2011.
✔ Maintain a Functioning Office – Must establish and maintain a physical office within the electoral area they are contesting. The office must be available for IEBC inspection before a prescribed deadline.
✔ Supporters List – Provide a list of registered voters supporting their candidacy. The number of supporters required varies by position.
Additional Requirements for Different Positions
1. President and Deputy President
✔ Submit a supporters’ list containing at least 2,000 registered voters from at least 24 counties.
✔ Establish functioning offices nationwide for inspection by IEBC.
2. Senator
✔ Submit a supporters’ list with at least 2,000 registered voters from the county.
✔ Establish functioning offices within the county.
3. Member of the National Assembly (MP)
✔ Submit a supporters’ list containing at least 1,000 registered voters from the constituency.
✔ Establish functioning offices within the constituency.
4. County Governor and Deputy Governor
✔ Submit a supporters’ list with at least 500 registered voters from the county.
✔ Establish functioning offices within the county.
5. County Women Representative
✔ Submit a supporters’ list containing at least 1,000 registered voters from the county.
✔ Establish functioning offices within the county.
6. Member of the County Assembly (MCA)
✔ Submit a supporters’ list containing at least 500 registered voters from the ward.
✔ Establish functioning offices within the ward.
Conclusion
Independent candidates must meet both general and specific requirements for their respective positions. Failure to meet these conditions results in disqualification by IEBC.
