IEBC sets tough rules for politicians

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Electoral commission chairman Issack Hassan (left) with Mr James Oswago, the chief executive officer at a past press conference in Nairobi. Photo/FILE 

By OLIVER MATHENGE omathenge@ke,nationmedia.com and PATRICK MAYOYO pmayoyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, April 15  2012 at  22:30

IN SUMMARY

• Night meetings banned and presidential candidates to pay Sh1 million and campaign confined to between 6am and 6pm

Politicians who failed the ethics and integrity test will blocked from running in the General Election, according to new tough regulations being prepared by the polls body.

“A party shall not present to the Commission for purposes of nomination, a person who does not meet the qualifications set for a particular office under the Constitution, the Act or any other Act of Parliament,” says the regulations by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Also outlawed are night meetings and premature campaigns. The regulations also ban campaign rallies, statements and political messages in the media before the official campaign period.

Presidential candidates will be required to pay nomination fees of Sh1 million. Those seeking governorship will be required to pay Sh100,000, and candidates for Senator and MP Sh75,000. County assemblies aspirants will deposit Sh 10,000.

The money will be be refunded if the candidate is not cleared or withdraws from the race. Candidates will also not be allowed to put up posters, graffiti, fliers, buntings, advertisements on billboards, public and private buildings and light pole or distribute T-shirts, caps and other promotional items.

The regulations, which are still being discussed, will confine campaign activities to between 6am and 6pm.

IEBC proposes to cut the polling period by an hour. Voters will cast their ballots between 6am and 4pm, sources conversant with the discussions said.

During the counting and tallying of votes, every candidate will only be allowed to have one agent who must have been nominated though an official letter to the commission at least six hours before the close of the poll in that election.

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During the presentation of the nomination papers, a candidate will only be accompanied by one other person and where he or she is not present, their position will be taken by another person of their choice. The regulations will, however, allow the Commission to authorise accredited observers and journalists to attend the nomination proceedings.

Nomination papers will be presented to the commission from 8am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm. The regulations, however, allow for variation of the time in case of disruptions such as late starting.

Presidential candidates presented by a political party will be required to present a nomination paper signed by him/her and by a proposer and a seconder who shall be voters who are also national officials of the political party concerned.

The nomination form will also have to be signed by at least 1,000 qualified voters from a majority of the 47 Counties.