IEBC says deadline for aspirants to hold fundraisers lapses on Thursday

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will roll out the second and final mass registration exercise before the next general elections.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said this will provide a window for Kenyans who missed the last registration exercise to register.

The second enhanced voter registration exercise set to happen in January 2022, with Chebukati saying the commission has secured the budget to facilitate the exercise.

“There was an issue of budgets, but the National Treasury has written to us giving us an additional Ksh.8 billion, part of which when approved by Parliament we will use,” he said.

At the same time, Chebukati said aspirants eyeing elective seats have until December 9 to participate in fundraising.

He warned that any individual who violates the directive risks being disqualified from taking part in the elections.

“The import being to curb aspirants from influencing voters by donating funds and monies for support,” said Chebukati.

Section 26 of the Elections Act provides that "A person who directly or indirectly participates in any manner in any public fundraising or harambee within eight months preceding a general election or during an election period, in any other case, shall be disqualified from contesting.”

Chebukati was accompanied by five IEBC commissioners to a prayer session in Limuru organized by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), where he reiterated that the will exercise utmost compliance with the law.

“I want to assure this gathering that we are on top of things as a commission, we are procuring materials for elections, there are a few challenges but most of them have been procured,” he said.

NCCK challenged IEBC to carry out its mandate with transparency and fairness for all.

“The commission has a sacred duty to play in this country. The commission is entrusted…in your hands are the lives of 47 million people. God is watching, the people of Kenya are watching,” said Rev.  Canon Chris Kinyajui, General Secretary, NCCK.

IEBC is currently in talks with the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee over a bill that if passed into law will lock out individuals who do not pass party primaries from vying as independent candidates as was the case during the 2017 polls.