The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has invited eligible organisations to apply for accreditation as election observers and media practitioners ahead of the by-elections scheduled for February 26, 2026.
In a public notice issued on Thursday, the commission said the accreditation exercise is aimed at facilitating independent observation and professional media coverage of the polls, which are expected to be held in various electoral areas across the country.
The IEBC said organisations seeking accreditation must submit their applications through the commission’s Accreditation Management System (AMS), accessible via its official portal. The commission emphasised that only applications submitted through the online system will be considered.
According to the notice, the deadline for submitting applications is Friday, February 6, 2026, at 5.00pm. The electoral body urged interested organisations to apply in good time to allow for processing ahead of the by-elections.
The by-elections will be the first electoral test for the commission in 2026 and are expected to attract close scrutiny from observers and the media amid ongoing public interest in electoral reforms and the credibility of Kenya’s electoral processes.
