Bill to block bad leaders set for Cabinet approval

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By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, July 2  2012 at  21:26

Two crucial Bills on the integrity of politicians and the amount of funds an aspirant can spend on election campaigns are ready for Cabinet approval.

Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa on Monday said the Bills were only awaiting Cabinet approval before they are tabled in Parliament.

He was referring to the Leadership and Integrity Bill and the Campaign Financing Bill, which are among the proposed laws that Parliament has to pass by the end of next month.

Facing criminal charges

“The two Bills are ready and I will present them before the Cabinet for approval so that we can beat the August deadline. We want Parliament to debate and pass them when MPs come back from recess,” he said over the phone.

Mr Wamalwa said the Leadership and Integrity Bill, which is set to lock out aspirants who have a criminal past, has not been watered down to favour any leaders.

The Bill establishes procedures that give effect to provisions in Chapter Six of the Constitution, which sets benchmarks for integrity of politicians and State officers.

“The Bill has not been watered down at all. It is in the same form as prepared by my predecessor Mutula Kilonzo. I know the Law Society of Kenya has been pushing for some changes, but we have resisted them,” said Mr Wamalwa, who is also the MP for Saboti.

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The Bill, in its present form, allows Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto to vie for the presidency, even as they face charges of crimes against humanity at The Hague.

The Bill proposes that any aspirant facing criminal charges should first be declared guilty and all avenues of appeal exhausted before the person can be blocked from running for political office.

The Bill specifies the various commissions that will vet aspirants, members of the Judiciary and other public office holders.

The Campaign Financing Bill, which seeks to prohibit excessive use of money on campaigns, proposes ways of financing elections, including the ceiling on funds expenditure.

It also seeks to put in place ways of controlling the use of funds, their sourcing and organs to ensure seat aspirants and political parties are accountable.

The Bill states in its preamble: “An Act of Parliament to provide for the funding of election campaigns, to control the use of funds in the nomination process, election campaigns and elections.”