IEBC Moves to Compel Politicians to Declare Campaign Donations Under Sweeping New Election Financing Rules

IEBC Moves to Compel Politicians to Declare Campaign Donations Under Sweeping New Election Financing Rules

NAIROBI, Kenya – Politicians and political parties seeking elective office in Kenya could soon be required to publicly declare all campaign donations and financial contributions received from individuals and organisations under sweeping new election financing regulations proposed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The proposed rules, unveiled during a Stakeholder Engagement on the Draft Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026 on Thursday, July 30, are expected to significantly reshape the country’s campaign financing landscape by introducing stricter reporting requirements and greater financial accountability ahead of future elections.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the electoral commission is racing against statutory timelines to complete nationwide consultations before gazetting the regulations in August, allowing sufficient time for implementation before the next electoral cycle.

According to the commission, the proposed framework seeks to enhance transparency, accountability and fairness in elections by ensuring that the source and use of campaign funds are properly documented and monitored.

“Since we came to office last year, the commission has undertaken a series of consultations with various stakeholders to refine our proposed regulations and spending limits. We hope to complete this process so that we can gazette them before the August deadline,” Ethekon said.

If adopted, the regulations will require every presidential, gubernatorial, parliamentary and county assembly candidate, as well as political parties, to appoint authorised campaign finance managers responsible for handling all financial transactions.

Candidates will also be required to open designated campaign bank accounts through which all campaign income and expenditure must be processed, effectively eliminating informal fundraising channels that have long dominated Kenyan politics.

The IEBC says the dedicated accounts will enable the commission to closely monitor campaign financing and determine whether candidates comply with legally prescribed spending limits.

Beyond bank accounts, candidates will also be required to maintain detailed records of every donation, contribution and financial support received from supporters, businesses, organisations or other entities.

Those records must then be submitted to the commission through periodic financial reports for verification.

“Like in the United States, during elections there are individuals and organisations that contribute resources to various political parties during campaigns. In Kenya, we also want candidates and political parties to record and report those donations,” Ethekon explained.

According to the IEBC, the reforms are designed to prevent excessive spending, reduce the influence of undisclosed financiers and create a level playing field for candidates regardless of their financial strength.

Campaign financing has increasingly become a subject of public debate in Kenya, where elections are often characterised by massive campaign expenditure, allegations of vote buying and questions over the source of political funding.

Election observers have previously argued that inadequate regulation of campaign finances gives wealthy candidates an unfair advantage while making it difficult for oversight agencies to establish whether public resources are being misused for political campaigns.

Political analysts believe the proposed regulations could mark one of the most significant reforms to Kenya’s electoral process since the enactment of the Election Campaign Financing Act.

Besides requiring disclosure of campaign donations, the regulations also establish mechanisms for monitoring campaign expenditure, allowing the commission to determine whether candidates exceed approved spending ceilings.

The IEBC says compliance with the new framework will promote integrity in elections while improving public confidence in the country’s democratic process.

“The proposed contribution and expenditure limits are intended to promote fairness, transparency, accountability and create a level playing field for all candidates participating in elections,” the commission noted during the stakeholder forum.

During the same engagement, Ethekon also addressed concerns surrounding reports that the commission planned to stop live-streaming election results, dismissing the claims as false.

He assured Kenyans that transparency remains central to the commission’s operations and reaffirmed the media’s critical role in monitoring elections.

“The media will continue playing its oversight role by scrutinising the electoral process and reporting election results. Transparency remains one of our guiding principles,” he said.

The proposed regulations are currently undergoing public participation and consultations with political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders before being finalised.

If gazetted as planned, the new rules are expected to govern campaign financing in future elections, introducing stricter financial disclosure standards while strengthening oversight of political funding in Kenya.

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IEBC Moves to Compel Politicians to Declare Campaign Donations Under Sweeping New Election Financing Rules