50% + 1 and 25% in 24 counties, explained

Short answerTo be declared president in the first round, a candidate must win more than 50% of all votes cast (the "50% + 1" rule) and also at least 25% of the votes in more than half of the 47 counties, which is 24 counties. Both tests must be met.

The two tests

Test 1, the national majority. The candidate needs more than half of all valid votes cast across the country. This is what people call "50% + 1".

Test 2, the geographic spread. The candidate also needs at least one quarter of the votes cast in each of more than half of the counties. With 47 counties, "more than half" means 24. The rule exists so that a president has support beyond a single region.

An example

Imagine a candidate wins 52% nationally but only reaches 25% in 20 counties because the vote is concentrated in a few populous regions. They pass the first test and fail the second. There is no winner in round one, and the top two candidates go to a runoff.

Why it matters in 2027

Kenya's opposition is split across several candidates, and the incumbent is polling well under 50%. In the latest poll (Infotrak July 2026) the front-runner, William Ruto, is on 32%, well short of 50%, so a runoff is a real possibility. Use the coalition scenarios on the home page to see how combined opposition support compares.

How close has it been?

In 2013 Uhuru Kenyatta cleared the line with 50.51%. In 2022 William Ruto won with 50.49%, a margin of 233,211 votes. Both elections were decided on the first round, but the margins show how much a single percentage point can matter.

Frequently asked

What does "50% + 1" mean in Kenya?

A presidential candidate must win more than half of all valid votes cast to avoid a runoff.

How many counties must a candidate win 25% in?

More than half of the 47 counties, which is at least 24 counties.

What happens if a candidate gets 50% but not 25% in 24 counties?

They are not declared winner in round one. The top two candidates go to a runoff.