MEDIA MISINFORMATION ON IEBC RULES ON ELECTIONS FINANCE ACT
In their zeal to become leading gatekeepers of the state some media houses in Kenya continues to make fools of its newspaper-buying public. Take the case of the premature and illegal gazette notice issued ny the IEBC with regard to the Campaign Finance Act.
Yesterday, the Nation newspaper falsely claimed in a sensationalized splash that CORD leader Raila Odinga failed to comply with the IEBC regulations while opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi did.
The truth is neither Raila, Kalonzo or Mudavadi submitted anything to comply with IEBC. The fact is ODM, Wiper and ANC – all the three – merely submitted their usual bank accounts as political parties. There is a difference between submitting documents and complying.
Even the complying Jubilee conceded said that they are aware of the flaws and illegalities of the IEBC gazetted notice, so why can’t the media accurately report that?
No party has formally issued nomination certificate to any individual so how can the Isaak Hassan and his chicken-loving commissioners gazette illegal laws requiring requiring ‘candidates’ to comply? No 2017 candidates exist, just multitudes of of aspirants. One expects media to do basic research and report on facts but sadly not the Nation and the notorious rag-tag Star newspapers.
But then, the choreography between State house submission of Uhuru papers and the idiotic Nation headline is unmistakable. The intention clear. To propagate Raila as one who is an unprepared presidential candidate and one who has no regard for law and due process. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The law is simply illegal and untenable. What happens to Kenyans who qualify to become voters after this IEBC deadline, can’t they be aspirants and subsequently candidates for 2017 elections too?
The basis for ODM to go to court to seek orders declaring IEBC regulations illegal can be summarised as follows;
– Parliament passed the Campaign Finance Act
– IEBC was charged with creating the regulations under this act.
– The regulations must be submitted back to parliament to ensure compliance with the Act.
– Once Parliament approves, then IEBC can implement.
– Parliament is yet to approve, so IEBC can NOT implement.
– Parliament has been called back to sit on 20/12/16 to look into approving the regulations among other urgent debates.
So Isaak Hassan, in his eagerness to please his Jubilee paymasters, wants to bind the country into observing laws that have not met parliamentary endorsement and therefore defective.
The IEBC as currently constituted is illegal and cannot be processing rules and regulations for 2017 elections
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