Aspirants face deadline for fund-raisers

Politicians seeking electoral posts have up to Tuesday to participate in fund-raisers.

If found participating in a funds drive from Wednesday, the risk being locked out of the upcoming elections.

According to elections chairman Issack Hassan, Section 26(1) of the Elections Act, 2011, requires candidates to refrain from fund-raising eight months to the polls.

“Aspirants for political posts have always used fund-drives and harambees (fundraisers) to entice voters and to influence their manner of voting.

Disqualified

If it is established that a person contravened this provision, the person shall be disqualified from contesting in the election held in that year or election period,” Mr Hassan said.

Citing the Act, he put those seeking elective positions in the upcoming elections on notice to stop using fund-raisers to amass political influence.

He added that the elections commission will use video recordings as evidence to disqualify candidates.

To effectively monitor and enforce this, the commission will set up the Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee.