Registering, voting, the six ballots, results and election disputes.
Search the official Constitution →Every five years, Kenyans elect their leaders in a general election run by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). On a single day, registered voters cast six ballots — for President, Governor, Senator, Woman Representative, MP and MCA.
Articles 81–88 and 101To vote in Kenya you must be a registered voter — a Kenyan citizen, at least 18 years old, holding a valid national ID or passport. You register, update or transfer your details at IEBC constituency offices.
Article 83On a general election day you receive six separate, colour-coded ballot papers — one each for President, Governor, Senator, County Woman Representative, MP and MCA. Three shape national leadership; three shape your county and ward.
Articles 97, 98, 136, 177 and 180After polls close, votes are counted at each polling station in the open, recorded on official forms, and tallied upward. The IEBC declares the winners — and to win outright, a presidential candidate must clear a special national threshold.
Articles 86 and 138When a seat falls vacant between general elections, the IEBC holds a by-election. When a result is disputed, it is challenged in court — presidential results go to the Supreme Court within seven days of the declaration.
Article 140