The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has proposed a new law that if adopted, losers in party primaries will be prohibited from running as independent candidates in the upcoming August 9 General Elections.
Appearing before the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), IEBC Director of Legal Services Chrispine Owiye told Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday that it wants to create a level playing field for all aspirants by having a law that serves all equally.
“The way you deny a person from hopping from party a to party b, is the same way you should deny a candidate from hopping from a party to independent,” said Owiye.
The commission has proposed an amendment to the electoral timeliness in its memorandum on the elections (amendment) bill, 2022, to eliminate the 10day window that allows party nomination losers to register as independent candidates
“We want to adjust the timeline that requires political parties to submit their membership lists within 120 days to the general election. we want the deadline to be May 9 instead,” said Owiye.
The proposal sparked different reactions as Mandera West MP Adan Yussuf backed the proposal, arguing that it would ensure equal application of the law. He said it would only be fair that losers in the nominations are not allowed to jump ship.
“Period for party hopping or to run as an independent candidate should be uniform. The time limit for both should be uniform,” said Yussuf.
However, Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch expressed his opposition noting that some aspirants jump ship due to unfair nominations by political parties.
“Within the Political Parties Act, that window exists. It should not be about the question of parties being hot at the nominations; it should be about fidelity of the parties to its members,” said Aluoch.
“What should the aspirants do if the party is not fair in its nominations,” he posed.
Aluoch highlighted he has been a victim of manipulated party primaries. In 2013, he moved from ODM to Ford-Kenya after he was denied the party ticket for a parliamentary seat. He won against the ODM candidate in the parliamentary contest.