Civil Society Stakeholders Convene to Reform Campaign Finance Laws

The Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA) hosted a crucial two-day workshop on election campaign financing in Nakuru, on November 12^th and 13^th, 2024. The workshop brought together 36 participants representing civil society organizations and political parties to build consensus on reforming Kenya's campaign financing framework.

The workshop focused on evaluating the current implementation status of Election Campaign Financing (ECF) laws while drawing insights from international best practices. Participants engaged in comprehensive discussions about the legislative and policy environment shaping campaign financing in Kenya, with particular emphasis on how current financial practices impact democratic elections.

IEBC representatives led a detailed review of the Election Campaign Financing Act 2013 and its 2020 amendment bill, helping participants identify areas requiring clarification, amendment, or enhanced enforcement. The sessions included an analysis of campaign spending patterns across all six elective positions, highlighting how inadequate regulation has led to inflated campaign costs and created an uneven playing field for candidates.

During robust plenary discussions, participants addressed crucial questions about the rationale behind ECF legislation, implementation challenges, and cultural contexts affecting campaign financing in Kenya. The dialogue emphasized the need to understand both direct and indirect funding sources and their impact on electoral integrity.

The workshop culminated in developing a comprehensive framework for reform, focusing on eight key recommendations including:

-       Identifying core principles of campaign financing in Kenya

• -       Analyzing cost drivers in political campaigns
• -       Understanding cultural contexts and their influence on political financing
• -       Addressing political resistance to reform
• -       Increasing legitimate money flow in politics