A statement from Muigai’s office said that consultations were ongoing with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to have the regulations gazetted soon/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 2 – Attorney-General Githu Muigai’s office on Friday announced that it had received Election Regulations from the Ministry of Justice after they were passed by Parliament last month.
A statement from Muigai’s office said that consultations were ongoing with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to have the regulations gazetted soon.
The statement said: “The Attorney-General’s office has today received the Election Regulations from the Ministry of Justice and is currently consulting with the IEBC to have them gazetted as soon as possible.”
On Thursday, the United Democratic Forum (UDF) expressed concern over the delayed gazettement of the election regulations saying that it was creating unnecessary anxiety.
UDF Party Chairman Hassan Osman accused Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa of deliberately delaying the process.
“The amendments passed by a majority in the House were intended to create a level playing field, set clear ground rules and reduce public anxiety,” the party said.
“It is indeed ironical that the a minister who shouts loudest about an alleged conspiracy to delay the landmark general election is adding to the public’s anxiety surrounding the March 4 polls by refusing to execute his constitutional role,” added Osman.
The regulations passed by Parliament include reduced amounts of money that aspirants will pay to the IEBC in order to participate in the March 4 general election.
For instance, presidential candidates will be charged Sh200,000 and not the Sh1 million that the IEBC had proposed, while governors will pay Sh100,000 down from Sh500,000.
Women, the youth and disabled persons who intend to run for the presidency will pay Sh100,000.
The regulations also restrict Kenyans in the Diaspora to voting only for presidential candidates during the next general election or in a referendum.
“A Kenya citizen residing outside Kenya shall only participate in a presidential election or a referendum,” the regulations state.
This will be the first time Kenyans living abroad will vote. MPs also passed a regulation allowing voters living abroad to register only using Kenyan passports.
According to the regulations, the IEBC is required to publish (at regular intervals) the names of countries in which registration and voting is scheduled to take place.
They further make it mandatory for the IEBC to capture thumb print and facial impression of voters during the biometric data registration exercise expected to begin in 10 days, following the delivery of the Biometric Voter Registration kits.
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