IEK Sets July 27 Election Date After Weeks of Delay

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has released a revised 2026-2028 Council Elections Timetable, setting Monday, July 27 as the date for Council elections, running from 6am to 6pm.

The revised date follows months of institutional crisis that began when the outgoing Council's two-year term formally lapsed in April without a validly constituted successor in place. In May, engineer Howard M'mayi facilitated a member-requisitioned a Special General Meeting to resolve the impasse, a move the outgoing Council initially resisted.

Members went ahead regardless, voting 107 to one at the May 21 Special General Meeting to install a nine-member Caretaker Committee and withdraw a contested 2025 draft constitution. The Registrar of Societies formally recognised the committee on May 28, tasking it with responding to a Kiambu High Court petition, Petition E009 of 2026, filed by graduate members over voting rights, which had triggered a suspension of the transition process.

That suspension was lifted on June 17, when Justice Dorah Chepkwony dismissed the petition and discharged the conservatory orders, clearing the Caretaker Committee to proceed with elections under its full mandate. A published Roadmap to Full Transition followed on June 24, setting out the steps toward elections and an AGM.

Under the new timetable, a second meeting with candidates took place on Thursday, July 16, presenting the revised schedule and allowing scrutineers and candidates to review resolutions from the first meeting. Campaigns have also also resumed.

An updated voters' register and the revised election timetable are due to be communicated to members today, Friday, July 17, giving them a chance to confirm their eligibility to vote.

IEK election scrutineers will undergo training on the electoral system on Saturday, July 18, followed by a presentation of the electronic voter system to candidates and their agents on Monday, July 20, giving candidates a chance to raise questions about the system directly with its vendor.

Voter sensitisation is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, July 21, with mock elections following on Wednesday, July 22 to familiarise members with the voting system ahead of the actual vote.

Validation of the live production system is set for Saturday, July 25, the same day campaigning officially ends at 11:59pm, as required under the Institution's constitution.

Following the July 27 vote, the Election Disputes Board has until August 3 to determine any election related disputes, allowing uncontested results to be declared. The Institution's Annual General Meeting, where results will be officially announced by scrutineers, is set for August 6.

Reacting to the announcement, engineer Howard M'mayi said candidates could now step forward publicly with their pledges, thanking both the Caretaker Committee and the Election Scrutineers Committee for delivering a timetable and wishing candidates well ahead of the vote.