Parties required to set up nominations units

Political parties will be required to establish a distinct agency to deal with candidates’ nomination, the poll team says.

Parties will also be required to indicate in their rules, due in July, dispute solving mechanisms during nominations.

They should also indicate how candidates are identified for both elective posts and party lists to fill positions in Parliament and county assemblies.

Parties are expected to prepare two sets of rules — one dealing with internal party elections and the other with identification and nomination of candidates for general and by-elections at county and national level.

A timetable released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister Raila Odinga two weeks ago says parties should finalise their nomination rules by July — six months before nominations. (READ: Tough poll rules set for parties)

The rules should be submitted to the IEBC and Registrar of Political Parties.

“The checklist addresses minimum requirements in accordance with the Constitution, the Elections Act, the Political Parties Act and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act.

“Specifically, the rules are developed in accordance with the requirement of Rule 19 of the second schedule of the Political Parties Act,” the IEBC says.

The IEBC says the checklist does not provide templates on how the parties will address the various requirements but gives a guide to ensure that the rules and regulations comply with Article 88 of the Constitution, which seeks to promote free, fair and peaceful elections and campaigns.

“The rules should stipulate specific measures to ensure that no gender occupies more than two thirds of elective and appointive positions in the party leadership,” it says.

The rules also have to address representation of minorities and marginalised groups including the youth, women, persons with disabilities, elderly, ethnic minorities and other groups.