As the 2017 general elections draw near, expectations are high that the IEBC will manage to formulate the much-needed election campaigns financing regulations.
To this end, IEBC has started consultations with key stakeholders in a bid to strike agreeable limits of monies candidates or political parties will be allowed to spend on an elections period.
The yet to be agreed upon regulations also intend to cap the amount of monies paid as advertisements to a candidate or political party will use in a media house. This is likely to trigger controversy given the centrality of advertisement to media houses. The media will be also required to reveal how much a candidate or a political party has spent during an election.
Apart from the media, the regulations will also demand that political parties or candidates deposit their campaign cash and give details thereof to the IEBC.
Well-wishers, friends among other supporters of a political party or candidate shall also be required to contribute a limit not exceeding 20% of the yet to be decided campaign contribution figure.
According to IEBC vice chair, Mahiri Zaja, the commission is determined to engage with all stakeholders to ensure that the regulations are enforceable.
The passage of regulations will give life to the Election Campaign Financing Act, which was enacted way back in 2013.