Parliament is back: campaign spending limits, and the bill that would merge HELB into a new funding body
MPs return on 3 November for a month before the Christmas break. On the table: IEBC rules capping campaign spending at KSh6.11 billion for a presidential candidate, and six education bills, including one that would merge HELB, the Universities Fund and the TVET Funding Board. Here is what each would change.
The National Assembly resumes on Tuesday 3 November 2026 for the last stretch of its fifth session, before adjourning for Christmas on 3 December. Two sets of proposals stand out, one for the 2027 election and one for every student and parent.
1. Campaign financing: limits on how much candidates can spend
The IEBC has published the Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026, which set out how parties and candidates raise, receive and spend campaign money.
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Presidential candidate spending cap | KSh6.11 billion |
| Political parties (combined cap) | KSh24.45 billion |
| Other seats | Separate caps for governor, MP and MCA candidates |
| Single donor limit | No more than 20% of the total contributions allowed |
| Paperwork | Dedicated campaign bank accounts, an appointed finance officer, records of every donation and expense, and reports filed with the IEBC |
| Enforcement | Audits, monitoring of fundraising, investigations and a complaints process |
| When it applies | From six months before the election until 14 days after. For the 10 August 2027 vote, that is from about 10 February 2027 |
Why it matters
- Fairness: limits aim to stop elections being decided by who has the most money.
- Transparency: voters would be able to see who funds whom.
- Enforcement is the test: Kenya has had a campaign financing law since 2013, but limits have repeatedly not taken effect before elections.
2. Six education bills, including a HELB merger
| Bill | What it would do |
|---|---|
| Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026 | Create a Tertiary Education Funding Authority by merging HELB, the Universities Fund and the TVET Funding Board, with a new system for placing and funding university and TVET students |
| Basic Education Bill, 2026 | Replace the current basic education law: school governance, funding, learner welfare, teachers and data |
| Kenya National Educational Assessments Council Bill, 2026 | A new law for national assessments, replacing the KNEC Act |
| Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training Bill, 2026 | Rules for training new teachers and ongoing training for serving teachers |
| Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill | Better recognition and tracking of qualifications, including a national database |
| KICD (Amendment) Bill | Clarify the curriculum institute's role and remove overlaps |
Public participation is complete. MPs now consider the feedback, propose amendments and debate the bills. No date for passing them has been set.
What to watch before 3 December
- The court ruling on the campaign financing rules.
- Which education bills reach a vote, and any changes to the funding model.
- Related: Election 2027 key dates · KCSE 2026.
