Politicians banned from taking part in Harambees

17:03 - 02 December 2016

Mwingi North MP Aspirant Mutati Nzoka Sonko gives a hefty donation in a harambee in a public event as Wiper Party Leader H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka looks on.

The Elections Act 2011 prohibits anyone aspiring for political office from participating in fundraising eight months before the election.

Politicians have until Wednesday next week to participate in Harambees.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chief executive officer Ezra Chiloba has told Parliament's Justice and Legal Affairs committee that the law prohibits aspirants from conducting fund raisers after this date.

The 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 in the election held during that election year or election period.”

This applies to all levels of office from President, Governor, Senator, Member of the National Assembly, County Woman Representative to Member of County Assembly (MCA).

Repercussions

Members who will contravene the directive risk being sidelined by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in next year’s elections.

"Issues like fundraising are permanent and are part of the new elections law. We can't change them," Mr Chiloba said.

The commission had earlier met MPs to discuss the revised election timelines which the IEBC intends to publish before implementation can commence.

Billions of shillings are normally raised through various fundraisers with Deputy President William Ruto among the top fundraisers having featured in several multi-million harambees across the country.

The ban on harambees was introduced in the Act before the 2013 General Election after some MPs complained that their rivals were embarrassing them by contributing huge amounts of cash just before an election.