The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has intensified consultations on proposed campaign financing rules for the 2027 General Election, seeking to build consensus on regulations that could reshape how political parties and candidates raise and spend money during election campaigns.
The commission on Tuesday continued its nationwide public participation exercise on the Draft Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026 and the proposed campaign contribution and spending limits, holding stakeholder forums in Nairobi, Nyeri, Nakuru, Machakos, Kakamega and Isiolo alongside similar engagements across the country.
The exercise, which began on Monday, is being conducted across 10 regional clusters—Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Garissa, Eldoret, Nyeri, Machakos, Nakuru, Isiolo and Kakamega—to gather public views before the regulations are finalised and gazetted.
Speaking at the Nairobi forum, IEBC Commissioner Prof. Francis Aduol said the Constitution requires the commission to regulate the amount of money that candidates and political parties may spend during elections.
He said although previous attempts to operationalise the Election Campaign Financing Act, 2013 faced legal and procedural hurdles, the commission had drawn lessons from those experiences in developing the latest proposals.
"The Constitution mandates the Commission to regulate the amount of money that may be spent by or on behalf of candidates and political parties during elections," Prof. Aduol said.
He thanked stakeholders for participating in the consultations, saying the commission remained committed to an open, transparent and inclusive reform process.
At the Machakos forum, Commissioner Dr. Alutalala Mukhwana said the proposed regulations are intended to enhance fairness and accountability by ensuring candidates compete on a level playing field.
He said credible elections require the collective effort of the commission, political actors and citizens.
"Safeguarding the credibility of elections is a shared responsibility between the Commission, citizens and all electoral stakeholders," Dr. Mukhwana said.
He also warned against misinformation, saying false narratives targeting electoral institutions undermine public confidence in the democratic process.
"Protecting the integrity of the Commission is essential to preserving the legitimacy of electoral outcomes," he said, urging both state and non-state actors to support efforts aimed at delivering free, fair and credible elections.
In Nakuru, Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan said the draft regulations seek to establish a comprehensive legal framework governing campaign finance management, reporting, disclosure, auditing, compliance and enforcement.
He said the proposed contribution and spending limits are intended to ensure elections are decided by voters rather than financial muscle.
"The proposed contribution and spending limits are intended to promote fairness, transparency, accountability and a level playing field by ensuring electoral outcomes are determined by the will of the people rather than the influence of financial resources," Mr Hassan said.
The commissioner, however, emphasized that the proposals remain in draft form and encouraged Kenyans to submit their views before the regulations are finalised.
The commission said feedback collected during the public participation exercise will be used to refine both the draft regulations and the proposed spending limits before they are gazetted.
Background
The Election Campaign Financing Act, 2013 requires the IEBC to regulate campaign financing by prescribing contribution and expenditure limits for candidates and political parties. However, implementation of the law has been delayed for years following court challenges and disagreements over the proposed limits.
The renewed push comes as the commission prepares for the 2027 General Election under a newly constituted leadership. Beyond campaign financing, the IEBC is also undertaking electoral reforms, voter registration planning and legislative reviews aimed at strengthening the credibility of the next polls.
