MPs Plot to Remove Election Law Ahead of 2022

Members of the National Assembly have stopped the implementation of the proposed law by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that seeks to regulate the elections campaign funding.

In the Elections Campaign Financing (Amendment) Bill, 2020, the IEBC is seeking to make provisions that enables it to regulate the amount of money political candidates and parties receive during elections.

The commission also seeks to promote transparency and accountability in election campaigns and require political parties and candidates to report their campaign finances in a structured manner.

The Parliament Building in Nairobi.

Kenyans.co.ke

However, the MPs, through a draft Bill, the Election Campaign Financing (Amendment) Bill 2021, wants to remove nine sections and amend four including the section 5 that prohibit campaign expenses without relevant authorities knowledge.

“No campaign expenditure shall be incurred by or on behalf of a political party unless it is incurred with the authority of the treasurer of the party, a deputy treasurer of the party; or a person authorized in writing by the treasurer or a deputy treasurer.

“A person who, without reasonable excuse, incurs any expenses in contravention of subsection (1), commits an offense,” the Bill states.

The new Election Campaign Financing (Amendment) Bill 2021sponsored by the National Assembly Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) chair Ndaragua MP Jeremiah Kioni, seeks to reverse the IEBC proposed amendments.

The IEBC Bill requires politicians and political parties to disclose their donors and give their campaign expenses to the commission.

“It shall be the responsibility of a candidate, a political party or a referendum committee to keep records of all income and expenditure relating to electoral campaigns; audit its accounts and make returns to the Commission,” the Bill states.

However, MPs want the details kept secret unless there is a probe being carried out.

The Bill further states that a candidate or a political party that fails to comply with the regulations shall be disqualified and be liable to a fine not exceeding two million shillings or five years imprisonment or both.

The members of parliament defended their move to amend the IEBC’s Bill, arguing it was complex to implement its current form.

Parliament Building in Nairobi.

The Standard