By Stephen Makabila
The country is firmly on the road to have politicians’ financial expenditure ahead of the March 4, 2013 election campaigns regulated.
Last week, the Cabinet discussed and passed the Campaign Finance Bill, 2012, which will regulate and manage the amount and source of funds that are used during elections and referendum.
Parliament, which is currently on recess, is set to debate the Bill and pass it into law when it reconvenes.
Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa has already assured the House will prioritise passing the Bill in its next session, which begins on November 20 and runs for 55 days until January 15 when legislators’ term expires. Centre for Multi-Party Democracy (CMD) has been at the forefront of pushing for fast-tracking of the Bill.
According to CMD chairman Justin Muturi, regulating campaign funds would boost chances of fair play in coming General Election.
“There should be no situation of those with massive resources using them to out-do the less moneyed. We should have a level ground for all those seeking elective positions,” said Muturi.
Presidential contest
In 2007 elections, according to a report by Coalition for Accountability of Political Financing (CAPF), over Sh3.5 billion was used by top three political parties in the presidential contest, among them ODM, and PNU.
The CAPF report indicates PNU used over Sh2.1 billion, ODM Sh1.2 billion while ODM-Kenya used Sh157 million. The funds were mostly used on meeting costs for primaries, travel, opinion polls, propaganda, campaign materials, organising of campaign rallies and paying party agents’ wages.
Among some of the political parties that have emerged as top spenders going by their heightened political activities ahead of the General Election include TNA, ODM, URP and UDF.
ODM National Vice-Chairperson Assistant Minister Elizabeth Ongoro notes Parliament should support the Bill to bring sanity in politics.
Ongoro, also Kasarani MP, argues leaders should be elected based on their leadership qualities and abilities, and not on the basis of who has the financial muscle.
Labour Party of Kenya leader Julia Ojiambo says the Bill will be a relief to female aspirants as the country seeks to realise the one-third gender provision in Constitution.
“Most women interested in elective positions are intimidated by men, who have an edge financially.
With some regulation, they stand a chance of competing fairly and that may boost our numbers both in Parliament and Senate, although that may not be enough to realise the one-third gender provision,” notes Ojiambo. The Campaign Finance Bill in its current form aims at minimising and eliminating influence of financial resources in the outcome of country’s electoral processes.
The Bill also seeks to create a level playing field for candidates seeking political office and their political parties by regulating the sources of funding and setting spending limits thereby encouraging the development of issue-based politics. The Bill bars contributions into campaign kitties from foreign governments and entities, anonymous contributions, contributions from illegal sources and those from the State and State institutions or public sources.
It provides for the disclosure and documentation of source of funds for political parties and provides for offences that may arise from financing of campaigns. Candidates will be required to submit a preliminary expenditure report to their political parties and to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission within seven days of nomination and a final expenditure report within three months after elections.
A cross-section of women aspirants support the Bill, noting for years they have been disadvantaged because male aspirants are financially endowed. Dr Reginalda Wanyonyi, a former Moi University don contesting for Bungoma County Women Representative seat notes the financial factor has been a major impediment for women politicians especially in Western and Nyanza provinces. “With regulations, we can be able to compete effectively with men,” she said.
