IEBC caps political aspirants, party expenditure in 2017 polls
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chief executive officer Ezra Chiloba. The electoral body gazetted new campaign finance rules on August 8, 2016, capping expenditure during the electioneering period for the 2017 polls. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Governors, senators and woman representative to spend maximum of Sh432 million.
- MCA aspirants restricted to a limit of Sh10.3 million.
The electoral commission on Thursday issued new campaign finance rules limiting spending by political parties, party contributors and aspirants during the 2017 electioneering period beginning in February.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has capped presidential contenders' spending at a maximum of Sh5.2 billion, Members of Parliament Sh33 million (Mandera South), and governors, senators and woman representatives to Sh432 million.
Spending by members of county assemblies has been capped at Sh10.3 million for Elwak South.
The new rules have also limited political party expenditure during the elections to a maximum of Sh15 billion and single-source contributors to political parties to Sh3 billion.
In a statement to newsrooms, the IEBC said “Article 88 (4)(i) of the Constitution mandates the electoral body to regulate the amount of money that may be spent by or on behalf of a candidate or party in respect of any election.”
“This requirement has been effected through Kenya Gazette notice (No. 6307 of 8th August, 2016). The electoral legal framework under the Constitution contemplates free and fair elections based on equality, non-discrimination and empowerment of key participants.
"Electoral campaign reforms, therefore, are meant to afford equal opportunity for eligible persons to compete in elections by not allowing money or resources to be a key determinant of the outcome,” read the statement.
The 2013 Election Campaign Financing (ECF) Act was enacted on December 24, 2013 but the law came into force on January 10, 2014.
Therefore, the capping of expenditure for elections did not apply in the 2013 General Elections.
