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Election observers yesterday warned that unregulated use of campaign cash could open floodgates for voter bribery and use of dirty money in the August 9 polls.

Elections Observers Group (ELOG), the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) must co-operate with other stakeholders to realise for them to deliver credible elections.

 The local observers at the same time called on the electoral agency, Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to work jointly in efforts to address integrity issues so as to ensure the sanctity of the Kenyan elections is upheld.

“Although highly desirable, election by universal suffrage is an expensive venture and requires meticulous planning and management, all election management bodies ought to cooperate to realize credible, peaceful, free, and fair elections.”

ELOG in its latest pre-election report conducted in February-May noted candidates with integrity issues and active cases relating to integrity issues ought to have been barred from contesting for any public office until such cases are concluded.

The report decries the fact the country conducts its elections for the third successive time without the oversight of campaign funding and spending.

Reads the report in part: “The unregulated use of money in the forthcoming elections in Kenya is likely to promote electoral malpractices like voter bribery, encourage the use of illicit funds and distort the fundamental principles of democracy.” Kenya will hold elections without regulations to cap election spending. Spending limits were de-gazetted last October after Parliament declined to pass them since they had not been tabled within the prescribed time limit.

A Judicial pronouncement by the High Court on election campaign financing follows a case filed by some members of the civil society that stressed the need for the electoral commission to develop a regulatory framework.

Food distribution and bribery

The Observer group, cases of voter bribery in the form of distribution of food and services by parties and candidates and political party candidates buying or attempting to buy National Identity Cards (IDs) were also recorded.

The Observers also noted the number of independent candidates vying in the 2022 General Elections had risen to unprecedented levels with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) clearing 47 candidates to vie for the presidency, while 7,125 candidates had been cleared to vie for the rest of the seat in the upcoming polls.

Out of the 47 Presidential aspirants, none of them managed to be cleared by the electoral body, thanks to stringent requirements to vie for the presidency.

 “A major reason by the persons seeking elective positions as independent candidates were that they did not have faith and confidence in political parties,” reads the report.

ELOG also observed and reported that security, electoral violence and intimidation hindered democratic election processes.

In May, Long Term Observers (LTOs) reported incidences of undue pressure on candidates, parties, or voters and in extreme instances, intimidation that included the use of derogatory terms, demeaning, insulting or abusive language, body shaming and threats.

ELOG also noted party nominations of candidates conducted in April were considered an improvement in terms of conduct compared to the 2013 and 2017 exercises.

During the exercise, movement of polling stations, nominations across some political parties were moved from one polling station to another where for example, during UDA’s nominations in Kisumu, the Nyawita polling station was transferred from Kachar and Segero Secondary School to Sagero Primary School.