Lawmakers nullifies IEBC’s campaign financing proposal
Members of Parliament have declared the campaign financing proposal tabled by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as null and void.
The Committee on Delegated Legislation accused the electoral agency of late submission.
According to MPs, IEBC brought the regulations to the parliament late so that they can be rejected so as to set up parliament against the public.
“It’s clear that these regulations should be there at least one year to elections, you can’t present them in the last minute, and even gazette some without parliament approval, they really want to paint us in bad light, they are null and void,” Committee vice chair Charles Njagagua said.
However, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said they had no ill motive in publishing the regulations, insisting that their intention was not to paint the Parliament in a bad light.
“…we need and beg for your support to ensure and a free and fair election,” he said.
Nevertheless, lawmakers said they cannot allow illegality to pass through the House and advised the commission to go back and do things in the right way.
MPs yesterday threatened to reject the campaign financing proposal which is geared to cap the spending limits for different elections, guidelines for expenditure rules for political parties and independent candidates and the manner in which contributions may be made.
Minority whip in the National Assembly, Junet Mohammed, brought the matter before the house aiming at the speaker to rule against the regulations.
Majority leader Amos Kinyua accused IEBC of deliberately bringing the regulations to parliament late so that they can be rejected to the advantage of certain candidates.
In sections 12, 18 and 19 of the Act empower the commission to set limits for contributions and expenditure by candidates and political parties participating in an election, at least 12 months before the election.
IEBC submitted the regulations to the National Assembly on Thursady last week making them late since MPs don’t have sittings on Monday and Fridays.
Monday marked exactly one year to the General Elections.
