The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced a new campaign financing limits for political candidates and political parties planning to contest any political office in 2022.
In a Gazette Notice, the new campaign financing limits, imposes contribution and spending ceilings for candidates.
“The IEBC gives notice and publishes the contributions and spending limits, including the total amount that a candidate or political party may receive and spend during the expenditure period,” read part of the notice.
According to the notice, a presidential candidate will be allowed to spend a maximum of Sh.4.4 billion for their 2022 campaigns.
For county election, the spending limit is guided by the geographical size and population of the specific region.
Turkana County has the highest spending limit at Sh.123 million followed by Nairobi County at Sh.117 million and Marsabit Sh.114 million.
Other counties with high spending limit are Garissa (Sh88.7 million), Kitui (Sh77.8 million), Kiambu (Sh71.9 million) and Nakuru (Sh72.2 million).
Lamu County has the least spending limit at Sh.21 million followed by Tharaka Nithi (Sh.23 million), Elgeyo Marakwet (Sh.25 million).
The expenditure for political parties has also been limited to Sh17.7 billion, with caps for specific items including transportation (Sh11.8 billion), advertising and media (Sh1.8 billion), election agents (Sh11.5 billion).
On the contribution limits, the Gazette Notice indicates that a political party cannot receive more than 20 per cent of its total contributions from a single source.
A candidate or political party committee which exceeds the prescribed spending limits and fails to report this fact to the electoral commission commits an offence under the Election Financing Act and is liable to a fine not exceeding Sh.2 million or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to both.
Further, the electoral agency also directed public officers seeking elective positions must resign by February 9, 2022.
