IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has warned voters, candidates and political parties against engaging in any form of campaigning after the official campaign period, taking photographs of marked ballot papers, wearing political campaign attire at polling stations or disrupting the voting process during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election scheduled for Thursday, July 16.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on Tuesday, Ethekon said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had completed all logistical and technical preparations and was now focused on ensuring a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
He said the commission had serviced and tested all election technology, trained election officials and certified the voters' register, which has already been displayed at every polling station to enable residents to verify their details before polling day.
"The commission reminds all stakeholders that the campaign has officially ended yesterday on Monday, 13th July 2026 at 6 p.m. In line with the gazetted election timelines, any form of campaigning or engagement of voters after that time has ended is prohibited," Ethekon said.
He warned that anyone found campaigning beyond the prescribed timeline would be committing an electoral offence and breaching the Electoral Code of Conduct.
The IEBC chair also urged voters to carry valid national identity cards or passports, saying biometric verification using fingerprints or facial recognition would be used to authenticate every voter before casting a ballot.
Ethekon dismissed claims circulating on social media that the voters' register had been manipulated, insisting the register was secure and had been certified and published in the Kenya Gazette.
"So anybody who claims that the register has been manipulated is spreading false, misleading, and unsupported rumors," he said, urging Kenyans to ignore such claims.
The commission also issued a strong warning against photographing marked ballot papers, saying doing so violates the secrecy of the vote and is an offence under the Elections Offences Act.
"Please do not take a picture of your ballot paper once you mark it... It is prohibited. It's against the law, and it has consequences," Ethekon said, adding that offenders risk a fine of up to Sh1 million, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
He further announced that only accredited agents appointed by candidates or political parties would be allowed into polling stations, warning against the growing trend of so-called "super agents" attempting to interfere with the voting process.
"We will not allow anybody, whether it's a senior politician or a leader in this country, who has not been cleared and accredited by IEBC, to come with their security or supporters to disturb the peace at polling stations," he said.
Ethekon also directed voters to leave polling stations immediately after casting their ballots to allow others to vote, while reminding candidates and supporters that campaign clothing, badges and political symbols would not be permitted inside polling stations.
After voting closes at 5 p.m., presiding officers will count ballots openly at polling stations in the presence of agents, observers and the media before transmitting results to the constituency tallying centre. While agents will be allowed to photograph the official Form 34A results sheets, Ethekon stressed that only the returning officer has the legal authority to declare the winner.
He called on all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, security agencies, the media and voters, to respect the law and uphold peace before, during and after the election.
"We urge all stakeholders... to respect the law, uphold peace before, during, and after the polling, and refrain from any actions that may compromise the secrecy or integrity of the vote."
The by-election was called following the death of Ol Kalou Member of Parliament David Njuguna Kiaraho, who died on March 29, 2026, while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital.