IEBC Opens Short-Term Job Opportunities Ahead of February 2026 By-Elections; Ksh 2000 Daily

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has opened applications for temporary election-related jobs as it prepares for the February 26, 2026, by-elections, with successful candidates set to earn up to Ksh2,000 per day.

In a public notice released on Wednesday, January 21, IEBC said the recruitment targets voters’ registration clerks and polling officials who will be deployed during the by-elections in Isiolo, Embu, and Kakamega counties.

The commission encouraged qualified Kenyans to apply, saying the temporary roles are critical to ensuring smooth electoral operations.

Available Positions at IEBC

IEBC is seeking to fill the following temporary positions:

Support Electoral Trainers (SETs)
Presiding Officers
Deputy Presiding Officers
Polling and Counting Clerks

Each role comes with specific responsibilities and requirements.

Support Electoral Trainers (SETs)

Support Electoral Trainers will assist in training polling officials ahead of election day. Their work will mainly focus on polling procedures, vote counting, and result tallying.

SETs will also help prepare training venues, distribute learning materials, compile training reports, and support returning officers during the training period.

To qualify, applicants must:

Be Kenyan citizens of good character and non-partisan
Hold a diploma or degree from a recognised institution
Be computer literate with proven training skills
Be a resident of the constituency or ward applied for
Be available for the full duration of the exercise

Successful candidates will earn Ksh2,000 per day.

Presiding and Deputy Presiding Officers

Presiding Officers and their deputies will oversee operations at polling stations during the by-elections.

Their duties include:

Setting up polling stations
Supervising voting activities
Managing the use of KIEMS kits
Maintaining order at polling centres
Overseeing vote counting and result transmission
Posting results at polling stations and submitting official documents to returning officers

Deputy Presiding Officers will assist Presiding Officers as assigned.

Applicants must:

Be Kenyan citizens of integrity and non-partisan
Hold a diploma or degree
Be computer literate
Have strong communication and reporting skills
Be a resident of the area applied for

Presiding Officers will be paid Ksh2,000 per day, while Deputy Presiding Officers will earn Ksh1,800 per day.

Polling and Counting Clerks

Polling and Counting Clerks will support election activities at polling stations. Their tasks include:

Guiding voters and managing queues
Verifying voter details
Issuing ballot papers
Assisting in sorting and counting votes after polling closes

To qualify, applicants must:

Be Kenyan citizens of good character
Be non-partisan
Have a KCSE mean grade of C- and above
Be residents of the constituency or ward applied for
Be available throughout the election period

Successful clerks will receive KSh 1,000 per day.

How to Apply

IEBC directed all interested applicants to submit their applications online through its official recruitment portal at jobs.iebc.or.ke.

The deadline for applications is Monday, January 26, 2026.

The temporary recruitment comes after IEBC confirmed by-elections in several areas following declared vacancies.

According to Gazette notices dated December 18 and 19, 2025, the commission officially set February 26, 2026, as the polling date and appointed returning officers to manage the process.

The Isiolo South parliamentary seat fell vacant after the death of MP Mohamed Tubi Bidu in November 2025.

In Embu County, the Muminji and Evurore ward seats became vacant after sitting MCAs resigned to contest the November 2025 Mbeere North parliamentary by-election, which they lost. Meanwhile, a by-election will also be conducted in West Kabras ward, Kakamega County.

IEBC said the by-elections in Muminji, Evurore, and West Kabras wards will use the Register of Voters published on June 21, 2022. However, voter registration and revision in Isiolo South Constituency have been suspended until March 30, 2026.

Notice to Public Officers

IEBC reminded public officers planning to contest in the by-elections that they must resign within seven days of a vacancy being declared, as required by the Elections Act.

The commission will carry out candidate registration and nominations on January 22 and 23, 2026.