BY SAM ALFAN.
Nyamira County Senator Kennedy Mongare Okongo now wants the court to restrain parties and candidates from embarking on early campaigns.
He also wants the court to compel IEBC to release a list of parties and candidates who are in violation of the electoral laws.
In a certificate of urgency the senator says that IEBC have failed to be transparent and accountable in managing the political affairs in the country and in laying a foundation for free and fair elections.
He argues that the early campaigns are in violation of the Election Offences ACT and if not operationalized and affected by IEBC the country will suffer irreparable economic loss and damage.
“We are heading into elections period and a section of parties may be sidelined as others have started early campaigns and are not in complaint with the Electoral code of conduct thus there is need for a level playing ground, “reads the petition.
He argues the 2017 general elections will not be free and fair if the electoral commission does not act on its legal mandate adding that the decision by the IEBC not to disclose errant parties and candidates in the country is in bad faith and thus offends the law on competitiveness.
“A number of public servants who intend to run for political offices will be discriminated by the early campaigns as they are allowed legally to leave office by the end of January and they may be disadvantaged by the early campaigns which will not give them a level playing ground, “argues Okongo
He says that IEBC has for the last three years failed, neglected and ignored to execute their mandate in the constitution.
Through his lawyer the court was told that that campaigns started in the year 2015 and the said campaigns have been going on unabated and this is a violation of the provision of the Election Offences Act Chapter 66 of the Laws of Kenya.
According to the senator early campaigns have caused economic stagnation as most investors have scaled down on their businesses and most companies have retrenched and down scaled on their business operation due to heightened political temperatures thus affecting the National economic growth.
