The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that the ballot paper and ballot box lid colours for the 2027 General Election will remain consistent with those used in the previous three election cycles.
This decision ensures that voters will not have to adapt to any new colour schemes at the polling stations, facilitating a smoother voting process. The colours assigned to each elective position are as follows:
- President: White
- Member of the National Assembly: Green
- Member of County Assembly: Brown
- Senator: Yellow
- Woman Member of the National Assembly: Purple
- Governor: Sky blue
The matching colours of ballot papers and box lids are designed to help voters and election officials quickly identify the correct ballots, reducing the risk of misplaced or stray votes. This consistent colour coding has been credited with minimizing confusion, particularly in regions with lower literacy levels, since its introduction in 2013.
Before the 2010 constitutional reforms and devolution, Kenya’s electoral system involved only three elective positions, with a simpler colour scheme: white for president, green for parliament, and blue for civic seats.
In preparation for the 2027 elections, IEBC is also enhancing security measures for ballot papers. The commission has issued tenders for advanced election kits and tamper-proof papers, which will feature multi-coloured serial numbers and perforations to prevent counterfeiting and substitution. It anticipates printing up to 180 million ballot papers to accommodate the election’s requirements.
