The Election Campaign Financing Act, 2013 that was published last week by the electoral agency in an effort to cap spending during electioneering period left a lot to be desired.
The Act, for example, stipulates that a political party is allowed to spend Sh15 billion while a presidential candidate can spend up to Sh5.2 billion.
According to the Act, the defaulters risk a fine not exceeding Sh2 million or a term of imprisonment of five years or both.
As a matter of fact, this sounds good in theory but when it comes to practical application, it is next to impossible. Understandably, in Kenya, elections are a matter of life and death, and, therefore, politicians have the proclivity to win by hook or crook.
In other words, the Act seems to be a public relations gimmick to hoodwink Kenyans.