Elections Act 2011
Elections Act 2011
Published by the National Council for Law Reporting with the Authority of the Attorney General
www.kenyalaw.org
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16Initiation of election of member of Parliament. County governor elections 17Initiation of county governor election. 18Change of deputy county governor nominee candidate. County assembly elections 19Initiation of country assembly elections. 20Notification in electronic media. 21Election of county assembly speaker. Nominations and elections generally 22Qualifications for nomination of candidates. 23 Qualifications and disqualifications for nomination as President.. 24Qualifications and disqualifications for nomination as member of Parliament. 25Qualifications for nomination as member of county assembly. 26Additional disqualification. 27Submission of party nomination rules. 28Submission of party membership lists. 29Power to nominate. 30Appointment of agents. 31Nomination of political party candidates. 32Approval of symbol for independent candidate. 33Nomination of independent candidates. Nomination of party list members 34Nomination of party lists members. 35 Submission of party lists. 36Allocation of special seats 37Re-allocation of special seats. 38Holding of elections. 39Determination and declaration of results. 40 Voter education. 41Access to and obligation of media. 42Accreditation of observers, agents, reporters, etc.
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43Participation in elections by public officers. 44Use of technology. PART IVRECALL OF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT 45Right of recall. 46Petition for recall. 47Recall elections. 48Validity of recall election. PART VREFERENDUM 49Initiation of a referendum. 50Notice of holding referendum 51Referendum committees. 52Costs of referendum committee. 53 Procedure for conduct of referendum. 54Voting threshold. 55General power of the Commission. PART VIELECTION OFFENCES 56Offences relating to register of voters and voters cards. 57Offences relating to multiple registrations as a voter. 58Offences relating to voting. 59Offences by members and staff of the Commission. 60Maintenance of secrecy at elections. 61Personation. 62Treating. 63Undue influence. 64Bribery. 65Use of force or violence during election period. 66Use of national security organs. 67Offences relating to elections. 68Use of public resources. Illegal Practices 69Certain expenditure illegal practice. 70Employers to allow employees reasonable period for voting.
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71Aiding and abetting offences under this Part. 72Election offence by candidate or political party. 73Postponement of elections by Commission. PART VIIELECTION DISPUTES RESOLUTION Dispute resolution by the Commission 74Settlement of certain disputes. Election petitions 75County election petitions. 76Presentation of petitions. 77Service of petition. 78Security for costs. 79Procedure of election court on receipt of petition. 80Powers of election court. 81Prohibition of disclosure of vote. 82Scrutiny of votes. 83Non compliance with the law. 84Costs. 85Determination of election petition. 86Certificate of court as to validity of election. 87Report of court on election offences. Referendum Petitions 88Election petition procedures to apply to referendum petition. 89Referendum petition. 90Composition of Court. 91Operation of declared result of issue submitted to referendum. 92Persons who may present referendum petition. 93Respondents to referendum petition. 94Filing of referendum petition. 95Duty of Registrar to make list of referendum petitions. 96Practice procedure and security for costs. 97Death of or delay by petitioner. 98Hearing of referendum petition. 99Powers of a court to summon witnesses in a referendum petition. 100Prohibition of disclosure of vote.
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101Examination of votes. 102Powers of Court. 103Petition expenses. 104Certification of referendum. PART VIIIGENERAL PROVISIONS 105Duty to co-operate. 106General penalty. 107Powers of arrest and prosecution. 108Airtime by state radio and television for election campaign. 109Regulations. 110Electoral code of conduct. 111Repeals. 112Transitional provisions. FIRST SCHEDULE SECOND SCHEDULE THIRD SCHEDULE ELECTION OF SPEAKER OF COUNTY ASSEMBLY ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT OATH OF SECRECY
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ballot box means a transparent container with a slot on the top sufficient to accept a ballot paper in an election or in a referendum but which prevents access to the votes cast until the closing of the voting period; ballot paper means a paper used to record the choice made by a voter and shall include an electronic version of a ballot paper or its equivalent for purposes of electronic voting; campaign period means the period specified as such in the notice issued by the Commission in relation to an election; candidate means a person contesting for an elective post; Commission means the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission established under Article 88 of the Constitution; constituency means one of the constituencies into which Kenya is divided under Article 89 of the Constitution; "constituency register" means the register of voters compiled in respect of each constituency by the Commission; county means the counties into which Kenya is divided under Article 6 (1) of the Constitution and specified in the First Schedule of the Constitution; county assembly means constituted in accordance with Constitution; a county assembly Article 177 of the
county election" means the election of a county governor or a member of a county assembly; disability has the meaning assigned to it in Article 260 of the Constitution; election means a presidential, parliamentary or county election and includes a by-election;
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electoral area means a constituency, a county or a ward; election court means the Supreme Court in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred upon it by Article 163 (3) (a) or the High Court in the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred upon it by Article 165 (3) (a) of the Constitution; election material means ballot boxes, ballot papers, counterfoils, envelopes, packets statements and other documents used in connection with voting in an election and includes information technology equipment for voting, the voting compartments, instruments, seals and other materials and things required for the purpose of conducting an election; "election offence" means an offence under this Act; elections officer means a person appointed by the Commission for the purposes of conducting an election under this Act; election period means the period between the publication of a notice by the Commission for a presidential, parliamentary or county election under sections 14, 16, 17 and 19 and the Gazettement of the election results; election results means the declared outcome of the casting of votes by voters at an election; harambee means the public collection of monies or other property in aid or support of a cause or a project; identification document means a Kenyan national identification card or a Kenyan passport; illegal practice means an offence specified in Part VI; independent candidate means a candidate for presidential, parliamentary or county elections who is not a member of a political party;
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nomination means the submission to the Commission of the name of a candidate in accordance with the Constitution and this Act; nomination day in respect of an election, means the day gazetted by the Commission as the day for the nomination of candidates for that election observer means a person or an organisation accredited by the Commission to observe an election or a referendum; party list means a party list prepared by a political party and submitted to the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Article 90 of the Constitution and sections 29, 34, 35, 36 and 37; parliamentary election means the election of one or more members of Parliament; petition means an application to the election court under the Constitution or under this Act; political party has the meaning assigned to it in Article 260 of the Constitution; polling station means any room, place, vehicle or vessel set apart and equipped for the casting of votes by voters at an election; presidential election means an election of a President in accordance with Articles 136, 139 (1) (b) and 146 (2) (b) of the Constitution; Principal Register of Voters means a current register of persons entitled to vote at an election prepared in accordance with section 3 and includes a register that is compiled electronically; public officer has the meaning assigned to it in Article 260 of the Constitution; public resources include-
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(a) any vehicle, or equipment owned by or in the possession; or (b) premises owned or occupied by, any government, state organ, statutory corporation ora company in which the Government owns a controlling interest; referendum means a poll held under Part V; referendum committee means a national or a parliamentary constituency committee comprising of persons intending to support or oppose a referendum question; referendum officer means a person appointed by the Commission for the purpose of conducting a referendum; referendum question means a question upon which voters shall vote in a referendum as specified in section 49; registration officer means a person appointed by the Commission for the purpose of preparing a register of voters; returning officer means a person appointed by the Commission for the purpose of conducting an election or a referendum under this Act; supporter means a nomination of a candidate; voter who supports the
vessel includes any ship, boat or any other description of vessel used in navigation; voter means a person whose name is included in a current register of voters; voters card means a card issued to a voter as evidence of the voters registration in a register of voters; voting period means the period specified as such in
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the notice issued by the Commission in relation to an election; ward means an electoral area within a county delimited in accordance with Article 89 of the Constitution. PART IIREGISTRATION OF VOTERS AND DETERMINATION OF QUESTIONS CONCERNING REGISTRATION Right to vote. 3. (1) An adult citizen shall exercise the right to vote specified in Article 38 (3) of the Constitution in accordance with this Act. (2) A citizen shall exercise the right to vote if the citizen is registered in the Principal Register of Voters. Principal Register of Voters. 4. (1) There shall be a register to be known as the Principal Register of Voters which shall comprise of (a) a poll register in respect of every polling station; (b) a ward register in respect of every ward; (c) a constituency register in respect of every constituency; (d) a county register in respect of every county; and (e) a register of voters residing outside Kenya. (2) The Commission shall compile and maintain the Principal Register of Voters referred to in subsection (1). (3) The Principal Register of Voters shall contain such information as shall be prescribed by the Commission. Registration of voters. 5. (1) Registration of voters and revision of the register of voters under this Act shall be carried out at all times except
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in the case of a general election or an election under Article 138(5) of the Constitution, between the date of commencement of the ninety day period immediately before the election and the date of such election;
(b) in the case of a by-election, between the date of the declaration of the vacancy of the seat concerned and the date of such by-election; or (c) in any other case, between the date of the declaration of the vacancy of the seat concerned and the date of such election. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where an election petition is filed in respect of an electoral area, between the date of the filing of the petition and the date of the by-election, where a court determines that a byelection is to be held, a voter shall not be allowed to transfer his or her vote to the affected electoral area. (3) Any citizen of Kenya who has attained the age of eighteen years as evidenced by either a national identity card or a Kenyan passport and whose name is not in the register of voters shall be registered as a voter upon application, in the prescribed manner, to the Commission. (4) All applicants for registration under this section shall be registered in the appropriate register by the registration officer or any other officer authorised by the Commission. (5) The registration officer or any other authorised officer referred to in subsection (3) shall, at such times as the Commission may direct, transmit the information relating to the registration of the voter to the Commission for inclusion in the Principal Register of voters. Inspection of register of voters. 6. (1) The Commission shall cause the Principal Register of Voters to be opened for inspection by members of the public at all times for the purpose of rectifying the particulars therein, except for such period of time as the Commission may consider appropriate.
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(2) The Commission shall, within ninety days from the date of the notice for a general election, open the Principal Register of Voters for inspection for a period of at least thirty days or such period as the Commission may consider necessary. (3) The Commission shall, upon expiry of the period for inspection specified under subsection (1), compile the amendments to the register of voters and as soon as practicable thereafter, being not less than thirty days before an election (a) publish a notice in the Gazette to the effect that such compilation has been completed; and (b) cause to be transmitted to every registration officer, a copy of the part of the Principal Register of Voters relating to the constituency for which the registration officer is responsible to be kept in safe custody. (4) The Principal Register of Voters shall be kept at the headquarters of the Commission and copies of the part of the Principal Register of Voters relating to the constituency for which the registration officer is responsible shall be kept at all the constituency offices of the Commission. Transfer of registration. 7. (1) Where a voter wishes to transfer the voters registration to an electoral area other than the one the voter is registered in, the voter shall notify the Commission, in the prescribed manner, of the intention to transfer the registration to the preferred electoral area not less than ninety days preceding an election. (2) Upon receipt of the notification referred to in subsection (1), the Commission shall transfer the voters registration particulars to the register of the preferred constituency not later than sixty days preceding the election.
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Updating of the Principal Register of Voters. 8. (1) The Commission shall maintain an updated Principal Register of Voters. (2) For purposes of maintaining an updated register of voters, the Commission shall (a) regularly revise the Principal Register of Voters; (b) update the Principal Register of Voters by deleting the names of deceased voters and rectifying the particulars therein; (c) conduct a fresh voter registration, if necessary, at intervals of not less than eight years, and not more than twelve years, immediately after the Commission reviews the names and boundaries of the constituencies in accordance with Article 89 (2) of the Constitution; (d) review the number, names and boundaries of wards whenever a review of the names and boundaries of counties necessitates a review; and (d) revise the Principal Register of Voters whenever county boundaries are altered in accordance with Article 94 (3) of the Constitution. Postponement of disqualification to enable appeal. 9. Where a person has been adjudged or declared to be of unsound mind, adjudged bankrupt or convicted of an election offence and is thereby disqualified from being registered as a voter, then, if that person is entitled to appeal against the decision, that person shall not be disqualified from being so registered until the expiration of thirty days after the date of the decision or such further period as the Commission may, at the request of the person, direct in order to enable the person to appeal against the decision. Eligibility to vote. 10. (1) A person whose name is entered in a register
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of voters in a particular polling station, and who produces an identification document shall be eligible to vote in that polling station. (2) The identification document produced in subsection (1) shall be the identification document used at the time of registration as a voter. (3) Nothing in this section shall entitle a person who is prohibited from voting by any written law to vote or relieve that person from any penalties to which the person may be liable for voting. Determination of questions concerning registration Determination of questions as to registration. 11. Any question whether a person is qualified to be registered as a voter shall be determined in accordance with this Part. Claims. 12. (1) A person who has duly applied to be registered and whose name is not included in the register of voters may submit a claim for the name to be included in the register to the registration officer in the prescribed form and manner and within the prescribed time. (2) Subject to the Constitution, a claim under subsection (1) shall be determined by the registration officer in the prescribed manner, and an appeal shall lie in the prescribed manner, to the Principal Magistrates Court on matters of fact and law and to the High Court on matters of law. PART IIIELECTIONS Nomination of candidates by a political party. 13. (1) A political party shall nominate its candidates for an election under this Act at least forty-five days before a general election under this Act in accordance with its constitution and nomination rules.
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(2) A political party shall not change the candidate nominated after the nomination of that person has been received by the Commission: Provided that in the event of the death, resignation or incapacity of the nominated candidate or of the violation of the electoral code of conduct by the nominated candidate, the political party may after notifying the candidate that the party seeks to substitute, where applicable, substitute its candidate before the date of presentation of nomination papers to the Commission. (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), in the case of any other election, the Commission shall by notice in the prescribed form, specify the day or days upon which political parties shall nominate candidates to contest in a presidential, parliamentary or county election in accordance with its constitution or rules, which shall not be more than twenty-one days after the date of publication of such notice. Presidential elections Initiation of presidential election. 14. (1) Whenever a presidential election is to be held, the Commission shall publish a notice of the holding of the election in the Gazette and in electronic and print media of national circulation (a) in the case of a general election, at least sixty days before the date of the election; or (b) in the case of an election under Article 138(5) of the Constitution, at least twenty-one days before the date of the election; (c) in any other case, upon the office of the President becoming vacant. (2) The notice referred to in subsection (1) shall be in the prescribed form and shall specify (a) the nomination day for the presidential election; and
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(b) the day or days on which the poll shall be taken for the presidential election, which shall not be less than twenty-one days after the day specified for nomination. Change of deputy president nominee candidate. 15. (1) A presidential candidate or a political party shall not at any time change the person nominated as a deputy presidential candidate after the nomination of that person has been received by the Commission: Provided that in the event of death, resignation or incapacity of the nominated candidate or of the violation of the electoral code of conduct by the nominated candidate, the political party may substitute its candidate before the date of presentation of nomination papers to the Commission. (2) Subsection (1) shall apply in the case of a fresh election under Article 138 (5) of the Constitution. Parliamentary elections Initiation of election of member of Parliament. 16. (1) Whenever a parliamentary election is to be held, the Commission shall publish a notice of the holding of the election in the Gazette and in the electronic and print media of national circulation (a) in the case of a general election, at least sixty days before the date of the general election; or (b) in any other case, upon the office of a member of Parliament becoming vacant and on receipt of a notice issued by the respective Speaker under subsection (2). (2) The notice referred to under subsection (1) shall be in the prescribed form and shall specify
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(a) the day upon which political parties shall submit a party list in accordance with Article 90 of the Constitution; (b) the day for the nomination of candidates for the parliamentary election; and (c) the day or days on which the poll shall be taken for the election, which shall not be less than twenty-one days after the day specified for nomination under paragraph (b). (3) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the National Assembly or the Senate, the respective Speaker shall issue a notice in accordance with Article 101 of the Constitution. (4) The Commission shall within twenty one days of receipt of the notice issued under subsection (2), transmit the notice to the relevant returning officer. County governor elections Initiation of county governor election. 17. (1) Whenever an election for a county governor is to be held, the Commission shall publish a notice of the holding of the election in the Gazette and in the electronic and print media of national circulation (a) in the case of a general election, at least sixty days before the date of the general election; or (b) in any other case, upon the office of the county governor becoming vacant. (2) The notice referred to in subsection (1) shall be in the prescribed form and shall specify (a) the day for the nomination of candidates for the county governor election; and (b) the day or days on which the poll shall be taken for the county governor election, which shall not
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be less than twenty-one days after the day specified for nomination. Change of deputy county governor nominee candidate. 18. A county governor candidate or a political party shall not at any time change the person nominated as a deputy county governor candidate after the nomination of that person has been received by the Commission. Provided that in the event of death, resignation or incapacity of the nominated candidate or of the violation of the electoral code of conduct by the nominated candidate, the political party may substitute its candidate before the date of presentation of nomination papers to the Commission. County assembly elections Initiation of county assembly elections. 19. (1) Whenever a county assembly election is to be held, the Commission shall publish a notice of the holding of the election in the Gazette and in the electronic and print media of national circulation (a) in the case of a general election, at least sixty days before the date of general election; or (b) in any other case, upon the office of a member of a county assembly becoming vacant. (2) The notice referred to under subsection (1) shall be in the prescribed form and shall specify (a) the day upon which political parties shall submit a party list in accordance with Article 90 of the Constitution; (b) the day for the nomination of candidates for county elections; and (c) the day or days on which the poll shall be taken for the county election, which shall not be less
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than twenty-one days after the day specified for the nomination under paragraph (b). (3) Whenever a vacancy occurs in a county assembly, the speaker of the county assembly shall within twenty one days after the occurrence of the vacancy issue a notice to the Commission in the prescribed form. (4) The Commission shall within twenty one days of receipt of the notice issued under subsection (3), transmit the notice to the relevant returning officer. Notification in electronic media. 20. The Commission may in addition publicise the notices under sections 14, 16, 17 and 19 in the electronic and print media of national circulation. Election of county assembly speaker. 21. (1)The speaker of a county assembly shall be elected by each county assembly in accordance with the Standing Orders of the county assembly, from among persons who are qualified to be elected as members of a county assembly but are not such members. (2) For the purpose of the election of the speaker of the county assembly after the first election under the Constitution, the procedure set out in the First Schedule shall apply. (3) The deputy speaker of a county assembly shall be elected from among persons who are members of that county assembly. (4) The First Schedule shall, with necessary modifications, apply to the election of the deputy speaker after the first election under the Constitution. (5) The office of speaker of a county assembly shall become vacant (a) when a new county assembly first meets after an election;
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(b) if the office holder vacates office; (c) if the county assembly resolves to remove the office holder by a resolution supported by the votes of at least two-thirds of its members; (d) if the office holder resigns from office in a letter addressed to the county assembly; (e) where the office holder violates the Constitution; (f) in the case of gross misconduct on the part of the office holder; (g) where the office holder is incapable, owing to physical or mental infirmity, to perform the functions of the office; (h) where the office holder is bankrupt; (i) where the office holder is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of six months or more; or (j) if the officer holder dies. Nominations and elections generally
Qualifications for nomination of candidates. 22. (1) A person may be nominated as a candidate for an election under this Act only if that person (a) is qualified to be elected to that office under the Constitution and this Act; and (b) holds a post secondary recognised in Kenya. school qualification
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b), a person may be nominated as a candidate for election as President, Deputy President, county Governor or deputy county Governor only if the person is a holder of a degree from a university recognised in Kenya.
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Qualifications and disqualifications for nomination as President. 23. (1) A person qualifies for nomination as a presidential candidate if the person (a) is a citizen by birth; (b) is qualified to stand for election as a member of Parliament; (c) is nominated by a political party, or is an independent candidate; and (d) is nominated by not fewer than two thousand voters from each of a majority of the counties. (2) A person is not qualified for nomination as a presidential candidate if the person (a) owes allegiance to a foreign state; or (b) is a public officer, or is acting in any State or other public office. (3) Subsection (2) (b) shall not apply to (a) the President; (b) the Deputy President; or (c) a member of Parliament. Qualifications and disqualifications for nomination as member of Parliament. 24. (1) Unless disqualified under subsection (2), a person qualifies for nomination as a member of Parliament if the person (a) is registered as a voter; (b) satisfies any educational, moral and ethical requirements prescribed by the Constitution and this Act; and
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(c) is nominated by a political party, or is an independent candidate who is supported (i) in the case of election to the National Assembly, by at least one thousand registered voters in the constituency; or (ii) in the case of election to the Senate, by at least two thousand registered voters in the county. (2) A person is disqualified from being elected a member of Parliament if the person (a) is a State officer or other public officer, other than a member of Parliament; (b) has, at any time within the five years immediately preceding the date of election, held office as a member of the Commission; (c) has not been a citizen of Kenya for at least the ten years immediately preceding the date of election; (d) is a member of a county assembly; (e) is of unsound mind; (f) is an undischarged bankrupt; (g) is subject to a sentence of imprisonment of at least six months, as at the date of registration as a candidate, or at the date of election; or (h) is found, in accordance with any law, to have misused or abused a State office or public office or in any way to have contravened Chapter Six of the Constitution. (3) A person is not disqualified under subsection (2) unless all possibility of appeal or review of the relevant sentence or decision has been exhausted.
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Qualifications for nomination as member of county assembly. 25. (1) Unless disqualified under subsection (2), a person qualifies for nomination as a member of a county assembly if the person (a) is registered as a voter; (b) satisfies any educational, moral and ethical requirements prescribed the Constitution and this Act; and (c) is either (i) nominated by a political party; or (ii) an independent candidate supported by at least five hundred registered voters in the ward concerned. (2) A person is disqualified from being elected a member of a county assembly if the person (a) is a State officer or other public officer, other than a member of the county assembly; (b) has, at any time within the five years immediately before the date of election, held office as a member of the Commission; (c) has not been a citizen of Kenya for at least the ten years immediately preceding the date of election; (d) is of unsound mind; (e) is an undischarged bankrupt; (f) is serving a sentence of imprisonment of at least six months; or (g) has been found, in accordance with any law, to have misused or abused a State office or public office or to have contravened Chapter Six of the Constitution.
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(3) A person is not disqualified under subsection (2) unless all possibility of appeal or review of the relevant sentence or decision has been exhausted. Additional disqualification. 26.(1) A person who directly or indirectly participates in any manner in any or public fundraising or harambee within eight months preceding a general election or during an election period, in any other case, shall be disqualified from contesting in the election held during that election year or election period. (2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to a fundraising for a person who is contesting an election under this Act or to a fundraising for a political party. Submission of party nomination rules. 27. A political party shall submit its nomination rules to the Commission at least six months before the nomination of its candidates. Submission of party membership lists. 28. A political party that nominates a person for any election under this Act shall submit to the Commission a party membership list of the party at least three months before the nomination of the candidate. Power to nominate. 29. (1) The persons who nominate a presidential, parliamentary, county governor and county assembly candidate shall be registered members of the candidates political party. (2) The persons who nominate an independent presidential, parliamentary, county governor candidate and county assembly shall not be registered members of any political party.
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30. (1) A political party may appoint one agent for its candidates at each polling station. (2) A candidate nominated by a political party may appoint an agent of the candidates choice. (3) An independent candidate may appoint his own agent. Nomination of political party candidates. 31. (1) A person qualifies to be nominated by a political party for presidential, parliamentary and county elections for the purposes of Articles 97, 98, 137, 177 and 180 of the Constitution if that person (a) is selected in the manner provided for in the constitution or rules of the political party concerned relating to members of that party who wish to contest presidential, parliamentary and county elections; and (b) subject to subsection (4), the party certifies the nomination to the Commission. (2) Each political party shall bear the expenses relating to the nomination of candidates to contest in presidential, parliamentary, county governor and county assembly elections and a political party may, at its own expense and on such terms as may be agreed between the party and the Commission, request the Commission to supervise party nominations of candidates. (3) Every political party shall notify the Commission of the name of the person authorised by the party to certify to the Commission that a person has or persons have been selected by the party under subsection (1) and the person or persons so named shall deposit his or their specimen signature with the Commission in such manner as the Commission may require. (4) The authorised person or persons referred to in subsection (4) shall, in writing, certify that a candidate
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has been nominated by the party. Approval of symbol for independent candidate. 32. (1) An independent candidate shall submit the symbol the candidate intends to use during an election to the Commission at least twenty one days before nomination day. (2) The Commission shall, upon receipt of the symbol submitted to it under subsection (1) approve or reject the symbol. (3) The Commission may refuse to approve the symbol of an independent candidate if the symbol (a) is obscene or offensive; (b) is the symbol of another candidate or of a political party; or (c) so nearly resembles the symbol of another candidate or political party or any other legal entity registered under any other written law. Nomination of independent candidates. 33. A person qualifies to be nominated as an independent candidate for presidential, parliamentary and county elections for the purposes of Articles 97, 98, 137, 177, and 180 of the Constitution if that person (a) has not been a member of any political party for at least three months preceding the date of the election; (b) has submitted to the Commission on the day appointed by the Commission as the nomination day, a duly filled nomination paper as the Commission may prescribe; (c) has submitted the symbol that the person intends to use during the election; and
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(d) is selected in the manner provided for in the Constitution and by this Act . Nomination of party lists members Nomination of party lists members. L.N. 142/2011 34. (1) The election of members for the National Assembly, Senate and county assemblies for party list seats specified under Articles 97 (1) (c) and 98 (1) (b) (c) and (d) and Article 177 (1) (b) and (c) of the Constitution shall be on the basis of proportional representation and in accordance with Article 90 of the Constitution. (2) A political party which nominates a candidate for election under Article 97 (1) (a) and (b) shall submit to the Commission a party list in accordance with Article 97 (1) (c) of the Constitution. (3) A political party which nominates a candidate for election under Article 98 (1) (a) shall submit to the Commission a party list in accordance with Article 98 (1) (b) and (c) of the Constitution. (4) A political party which nominates a candidate for election under Article 177 (1) (a) shall submit to the Commission a party list in accordance with Article 177 (1) (b) and (c) of the Constitution. (5) The party lists under subsection (2), (3) and (4) shall be submitted in order of priority. (6) The party lists submitted to the Commission under this section shall be in accordance with the constitution or nomination rules of the political party concerned. (7) The party lists submitted to the Commission shall be valid for the term of Parliament. (8) A person who is nominated by a political party under subsection (2), (3) and (4) shall have been a
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member of the political party for at least three months preceding the date of submission of the party list by the political party. (9) The party list may contain a name of any Presidential or Deputy Presidential candidate nominated for an election under this Act. (10) A party list submitted for purposes of subsection (2), (3), (4) and (5) shall not be amended during the term of Parliament or the county assembly, as the case may be, for which the candidates are elected. Submission of party lists. 35. (1) A political party shall submit its party list to the Commission on the same day as the day designated for submission to the Commission by political parties of nominations of candidates for an election before the nomination of candidates under Article 97 (1) (a) and (b), 98 (1) (a) and 177 (1) (a) of the Constitution. Allocation of special seats. 36. (1) A party list submitted by a political party under (a) Article 97 (1) (c) of the Constitution shall include twelve candidates; (b) Article 98 (1) (b) of the Constitution shall include sixteen candidates; (c) Article 98 (1) (c) of the Constitution shall include two candidates; (d) Article 98 (1) (d) of the Constitution shall include two candidates; (e) Article 177 (1) (b) of the Constitution shall include a list of the number of candidates reflecting the number of wards in the county; (f) Article 177 (1) (c) of the Constitution shall include eight candidates, four of whom shall be persons
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with disability and four of whom shall be the youth. (2) A party list submitted under subsection (1) (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f) shall contain alternates between male and female candidates in the priority in which they are listed. (3) The party list referred to under subsection (1) (f) shall prioritise a person with disability, the youth and any other candidate representing a marginalized group. (4) Within thirty days after the declaration of the election results, the Commission shall designate, from each qualifying list, the party representatives on the basis of proportional representation. (5) The allocation of seats by the Commission under Article 97 (1) (c) of the Constitution will be proportional to the number of seats won by the party under Article 97 (1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution. (6) The allocation of seats by the Commission under Article 98 (1) (b), (c) and (d) of the Constitution shall be proportional to the number of seats won by the party under Article 98 (1) (a) of the Constitution. (7) For purposes of Article 177 (1) (b) of the Constitution, the Commission shall draw from the list under subsection (1)(e), such number of special seat members in the order given by the party, necessary to ensure that no more than two-thirds of the membership of the assembly are of the same gender. (8) For purposes of Article 177(1)(c) of the Constitution, the Commission shall draw from the list under subsection (1)(f) four special seat members in the order given by the party. (9) The allocation of seats by the Commission under Article 177 (1) (b) and (c) of the Constitution shall be proportional to the number of seats won by the party under Article 177 (1) (a) of the Constitution.
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Re-allocation of special seat. 37. (1) If a representative from a political party list dies, withdraws from the party list, changes parties, resigns or is expelled from his or her party during the term of the representative, the seat of the representative shall be allocated to the next candidate of the same gender on the respective political party list. (2) Notwithstanding the provision of section 34 (10), if there are no more candidates on the same party's list, the Commission shall require the concerned political party to nominate another candidate within twenty-one days. (3) A vacancy in any seat in a political party list shall not be filled three months immediately before a general election. (4) Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (2) the Commission shall not allocate the seat for the remainder of the term of Parliament or the county assembly. Holding of elections. 38. (1) After a notice has been published in the Gazette under section 14 or 16, every returning officer shall proceed to hold a presidential or county governor election as the case may be according to the terms of the notice and in accordance with the Regulations relating to elections. (2) After receiving a notice under section 17 or 19, the returning officer to whom it is addressed shall proceed to hold the election according to the terms of the relevant notice published under subsection (4) of that section and in accordance with the Regulations relating to elections. Determination and declaration of results. 39. (1) The Commission shall determine, declare and publish the results of an election immediately after close of polling. (2) Before determining and declaring the final results
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of an election under subsection (1), the Commission may announce the provisional results of an election. (3) The Commission shall announce the provisional and final results in the order in which the tallying of the results is completed. Voter education. 40. The Commission shall, in performing its duties under Article 88 (4) (g) of the constitution establish mechanisms for the provision of continuous voter education and cause to be prepared a voter education curriculum. Access to and obligation of media. 41. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a political party participating in an election shall have access to the state owned media services during the campaign period. (2) The Commission shall, after consultations with the candidates, the political parties concerned and the officers responsible for the state owned media services, monitor the equitable allocation of air-time during the campaign period. (3) Every state owned print or electronic media which publishes any information relating to the electoral process shall be guided by the principle of total impartiality and shall refrain from any discrimination in relation to any candidate. (4) The Code of Conduct for the practice of journalism prescribed under the Media Act (No. 3 of 2007) shall be subscribed to and observed by every media house and every person who reports on any election and referendum under the Constitution and this Act. (5) For the purpose of giving effect to this section, the Commission may, in writing, issue directives to the media. (6) The Commission may prohibit a media house that contravenes the Code of Conduct prescribed under the
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Media Act from transmitting information related to an election under this Act. Accreditation of observers, agents, reporters, etc 42. The Commission may at any election accredit (a) person as an observer, representative; or agent or media
(b) any person or institution to report on an election. Participation in elections by public officers. 43. (1) A public officer shall not (a) engage in the activities of any political party or candidate or act as an agent of a political party or a candidate in an election; (b) publicly indicate support for or opposition against any party, side or candidate participating in an election; (c) engage in political campaigns or other political activity; or (d) use public resources to initiate new development projects in any constituency or county three months before an election in that constituency or county. (2) A public officer who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both. (3) A person who knowingly aids in contravention of subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both such fine and imprisonment. (4) A candidate who knowingly aids in contravention of subsection (1) shall not be eligible to contest in the
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(5) A public officer who intends to contest an election under this Act shall resign from public office at least seven months before the date of election. (6) This section shall not apply to(a) the President; (b) the Prime Minister; (c) the Deputy President; (d) a member of Parliament; (e) a county governor; (f) a deputy county governor; (g) a member of a county assembly. Use of technology. 44. The Commission may use such technology as it considers appropriate in the electoral process. PART IVRECALL OF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT Right of recall. 45. (1) The electorate in a county or constituency may recall their member of Parliament before the end of the term of the relevant House of Parliament on any of the grounds specified in subsection (2). (2) A member of Parliament may be recalled where the member (a) is found, after due process of the law, to have violated the provisions of Chapter Six of the Constitution; (b) is found, after due process of the law, to have mismanaged public resources;
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(c) is convicted of an offence under this Act. (3) A recall of a member of Parliament under subsection (1) shall only be initiated upon a judgement or finding by the High Court confirming the grounds specified in subsection (2). (4) A recall under subsection (1) shall only be initiated twenty-four months after the election of the member of Parliament and not later than twelve months immediately preceding the next general election. (5) A recall petition shall not be filed against a member of Parliament more than once during the term of that member in Parliament. (6) A person who unsuccessfully contested an election under this Act shall not be eligible, directly or indirectly, to initiate a petition under this section. Petition for recall. 46. (1) A recall under section 45 shall be initiated by a petition which shall be filed with the Commission and which shall be (a) in writing; (b) signed by a petitioner who (i) is a voter in the constituency or county in respect of which the recall is sought; and (ii) was registered to vote in the election in respect of which the recall is sought; (c) accompanied by an order of the High Court issued in terms of section 45(3). (2) The petition referred to in subsection (1) shall (a) specify the grounds for the recall as specified under section 45 (2);
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(b) contain a list of such number of names of voters in the constituency or county which shall represent at least thirty percent of the registered voters; and (c) be accompanied by the fee prescribed for an election petition. (3) The list of names referred to in subsection (2) (b) shall contain the names, address, voter card number, national identity card or passport number and signature of the voters supporting the petition and shall contain names of at least fifteen percent of the voters in more than half of the wards in the county or the constituency, as appropriate. (4) The voters supporting a petition under subsection (3) shall represent the diversity of the people in the county or the constituency as the case may be. (5) The petitioner shall collect and submit to the Commission the list of names under subsection (2) (b) within a period of thirty days after filing the petition. (6) The Commission shall verify the list of names within a period of thirty days of receipt of that list. (7) The Commission, if satisfied that the requirements of this section are met, shall within fifteen days after the verification, issue a notice of the recall to the Speaker of the relevant House. (8) The Commission shall conduct a recall election within the relevant constituency or county within ninety days of the publication of the question. Recall elections. 47. (1) Where a member of Parliament is to be recalled under section 45, the Commission shall frame the question to be determined at the recall election. (2) A question referred to in subsection (1) shall be framed in such a manner as to require the answer yes or the answer no.
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(3) The Commission shall assign a symbol for each answer to the recall question. (4) The voting at a recall election shall be by secret ballot. (5) A recall election shall be decided by a simple majority of the voters voting in the recall election. (6) Where a recall election results in the removal of a member of Parliament, the Commission shall conduct a by-election in the affected constituency or county. (7) A member of Parliament who has been recalled may run in the by-election conducted under subsection (6). Validity of recall election. 48. A recall election shall be valid if the number of voters who concur in the recall election is at least fifty percent of the total number of registered voters in the affected county or constituency. PART VREFERENDUM Initiation of a referendum. 49. (1) Whenever it is necessary to hold a referendum on any issue, the President shall by notice refer the issue to the Commission for the purposes of conducting a referendum. (2) Where an issue to be decided in a referendum has been referred to the Commission under subsection (1), the Commission shall frame the question or questions to be determined during the referendum. (3) The Commission shall, in consultation with the Speaker of the relevant House, lay the question referred to in subsection (2) before the House for approval by resolution. (4) The National Assembly may approve one or more questions for a referendum.
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(5) The Commission shall publish the question approved under subsection (4) in the Gazette and in the electronic and print media of national circulation. (6) The Commission shall conduct the referendum within ninety days of publication of the question. (7) The Commission may assign such symbol for each answer to the referendum question or questions as it may consider necessary. (8) A symbol assigned under subsection (7) shall not resemble that of a political party or of an independent candidate. Notice of holding referendum. 50. (1) The Commission shall, within fourteen days after publication of the question referred to in section 49 publish a notice of the holding of the referendum and the details thereof in the Gazette, in the electronic and print media of national circulation (2) The notice shall specify (a) the referendum question or questions and the option of the answer or answers; (b) the symbols assigned for the answers to the referendum question; (c) the day on which the referendum is to be held which shall not be less than twenty one days after the date of the publication of the notice; (d) the polling time of the referendum; (e) the day by which the referendum committees shall have registered with the Commission; and (f) the day and time by which campaign in support of or in opposition to the referendum question shall start and cease.
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Referendum Committees. L.N. 19/2012 51. (1) Where a referendum question requires a yes or no answer, persons intending to campaign for or against the referendum question shall form such national referendum committees and constituency referendum committees as are necessary. (2) Where there is more than one referendum question, persons intending to campaign for or against each referendum question shall, on application to the Commission, form one national referendum committee each and one committee each in every constituency for each referendum question. (3) A referendum committee shall apply to the Commission for registration in the prescribed form. (4) An application under subsection (3) shall be accompanied by information showing that the applicant adequately represents persons campaigning for or against the referendum question. (5) The national referendum committees shall control and regulate the constituency referendum committees. (6) A member of a referendum committee shall subscribe to and abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct set out in the Second Schedule. Costs of referendum committee. 52. (1) Each referendum committee shall bear its own costs during the campaign period of the referendum. (2) The costs referred to in subsection (1) include payment of the agents of the respective referendum committees. Procedure for conduct of referendum. 53. The procedure for the conduct of an election shall
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apply with necessary modifications to the conduct of referendum. Voting threshold. 54. A referendum question on an issue other than that contemplated in Articles 255 and 256 of the Constitution shall be decided by a simple majority of the citizens voting in the referendum. General power of the Commission. 55. Nothing in this Act shall preclude the Commission from taking any administrative measures to ensure effective conduct of the referendum. PART VIELECTION OFFENCES Offences relating to register of voters and voters cards. 56. A person who (a) without authority makes, prepares, prints or is in possession of a document or paper purporting to be a register of voters; (b) without authority makes, prepares or prints a document or paper purporting to be a voters card; (c) not being a person authorised to be in possession of a voters card bearing the name of another person or which has not been written in the name of any person, has such voters card in his possession; (d) without authority supplies a voters card to any person; (e) without authority destroys, damages, defaces or makes any alteration on a voters card;
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(f) sells or offers for sale a voters card to any person or purchases or offers to purchase a voters card from any person; (g) knowingly makes any false statement on, or in connection with any application to be registered in any register of voters; or (h) aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of or attempts to commit any of the offences referred to in paragraphs (a) to (f), commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years or to both. Offences relating to multiple registrations as a voter. 57. (1) A person who (a) being registered as a voter in a register of voters applies to be registered as a voter (i) in any other register of voters, otherwise than in substitution for his subsisting registration; or (ii) in the same register of voters; (b) having applied to be registered in a register of voters which application has not been either granted or rejected, applies to be registered in the same register of voters or in another register of voters; (c) simultaneously makes two or more applications to be registered as a voter; or (d) having been disqualified by an election court, applies to be registered as a voter, commits an offence is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.
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(2) Any person who commits an offence under subsection (1) shall, in addition to the penalty provided in subsection (1), not be eligible to vote in that election or in the next election. (3) A member or officer of the Commission or a person who aids another person to register as a voter more than once commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both. (4) A candidate who aids a person to register as a voter more than once, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both and shall not be eligible to contest in the ongoing general election. Offences relating to voting. 58. A person who (a) forges, counterfeits, defaces or destroys any ballot paper or the official perforation, stamp or mark on any ballot paper; (b) without authority supplies any ballot paper to any person; (c) sells or offers for sale any ballot paper to any person, purchases or offers to purchase any ballot paper from any person; (d) not being a person entitled to be in possession of any ballot paper which has been marked with any official perforation, stamp or mark has any such ballot paper in his possession; (e) puts into any ballot box anything other than the ballot paper which he is authorised by law to put in;
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(f) without authority takes out of a polling station any ballot paper or is found in possession of any ballot paper outside a polling station; (g) not being an election official and not being authorised, removes election material from a polling station before, during or after an election; (h) without authority destroys, takes, opens, disposes of or otherwise interferes with any election material in use or intended to be used for the purposes of an election; (i) without authority prints any ballot paper or what purports to be or is capable of being used as a ballot paper at an election; (j) for the purposes of an election, manufactures, constructs, imports, has in his possession, supplies or uses, or causes to be manufactured, constructed, imported, supplied or used, any appliance, device or mechanism by which a ballot paper may be extracted, affected or manipulated after having been deposited in a ballot box during the polling at any election; (k) not being authorised to do so under this Act, makes any mark on any ballot paper issued to any person other than to himself; (l) votes at any election when they are not entitled to vote; (m) votes more than once in any election; (n) interferes with a voter in the casting of his vote in secret; (o) pretends to be unable to read or write so as to be assisted in voting; or (p) pretends to be visually impaired or suffering from any other disability so as to be assisted in voting, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine
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not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years or to both.
Offences by members and staff of the Commission. 59. (1) A member of the Commission, staff or other person having any duty to perform pursuant to any written law relating to any election who (a) makes, in any record, return or other document which they are required to keep or make under such written law, an entry which they know or have reasonable cause to believe to be false, or do not believe to be true; (b) permits any person whom they know or have reasonable cause to believe to be able to read or write to vote in the manner provided for persons unable to read or write; (c) permits any person whom they know or have reasonable cause to believe not to be visually impaired or a person with disability to vote in the manner provided for persons who are visually impaired or persons with disability, as the case may be; (d) wilfully prevents any person from voting at the polling station at which they know or have reasonable cause to believe such person is entitled to vote;
(e) wilfully rejects or refuses to count any ballot paper which they know or have reasonable cause to believe is validly cast for any candidate in accordance with the provisions of such written law; (f) wilfully counts any ballot paper as being cast for any candidate which they know or have reasonable cause to believe was not validly cast for that candidate;
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(g) interferes with a voter in the casting of his vote in secret; (h) where required under this Act or any other law to declare the result of an election, fails to declare the results of an election; (i) except in the case of a member, officer or person authorised to do so, purports to make a formal declaration or formal announcement of an election result; (J) without reasonable cause does or omits to do anything in breach of his official duty; (k) colludes with any political party or candidate for purposes of giving an undue advantage to the political party or candidate; (l) wilfully contravenes the law to give undue advantage to a candidate or a political party on partisan, ethnic, religious, gender or any other unlawful considerations; or
(m) fails to prevent or report to the Commission and any other relevant authority, the commission of an electoral malpractice or offence committed under this Act, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both. Maintenance of secrecy at elections. 60. (1) Every elections officer, candidate or agent authorised to take part in any proceedings relating to the issue or receipt of ballot papers or to attend at a polling station or at the counting of the votes shall, before so attending, make an oath of secrecy prescribed in the Third Schedule. (2) Every officer, candidate or agent in attendance at a polling station shall
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(a) maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the ballot; and (b) not communicate, except for a purpose authorised by law before the poll is closed, any information as to the name or number on the register of voters, of any voter who has or has not applied for a ballot paper or voted at that station or as to the official mark. (3) A presiding officer may, upon request, divulge to a candidate or to the agent of a candidate the total number of voters who have voted in the station at any time before the poll is closed. (4) An election officer, candidate, agent or other person shall not (a) without authority, obtain or attempt to obtain, in a polling station, information as to the candidate for whom any voter in the station is about to vote or has voted; (b) communicate at any time to any person, any information obtained in a polling station as to the candidate for whom any voter in the station is about to vote or has voted; or (c) disclose the serial number of the ballot paper issued to any voter at the station. (5) No person, except a presiding officer or a person authorised by the presiding officer, shall communicate with any voter after the voter has received a ballot paper and before the voter has placed the ballot paper in a ballot box. (6) Every election officer, candidate, or agent in attendance at the counting of votes shall maintain and aid in maintaining, the secrecy of the ballot, and shall not attempt to ascertain at such counting the number of any ballot paper, or communicate any information obtained at such counting as to the candidate for whom any vote is given by any particular ballot paper.
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(7) A person attending any proceedings relating to an election shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the ballot and shall not without lawful excuse (a) communicate, before the poll is closed to any person, any information obtained at those proceedings as to any official perforation, stamp or mark to be used in connection with any paper; (b) communicate to any person at any time any information obtained at those proceedings as to the number of ballot papers issued to any person; (c) attempt to ascertain at the proceedings in connection with the receipt of ballot papers, the number on any ballot paper; (d) attempt to ascertain at the proceedings in connection with the receipt of the ballot papers the candidate for whom any vote is given in any particular ballot paper or communicate any information with respect thereto obtained at those proceedings; or (e) capture an image of any marked ballot for purposes of financial gain or for showing allegiance. (8) A person who contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both. Personation. 61. (1) A person, who at an election (a) applies for a ballot paper in the name of another person, or of a fictitious person; (b) having voted once at any such election, votes again or applies at the same election for a ballot paper in his own name;
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(c) votes with the knowledge that he is not entitled to vote in that election; or (d) presents himself as an election official knowing that he is not, commits the offence of personation, which shall be cognizable. (2) For the purposes of this section, a person who has applied for a ballot paper for the purpose of voting shall be deemed to have voted. Treating. 62. (1) A candidate who corruptly, for the purpose of influencing a voter to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate or for any political party at an election (a) before or during an election (i) undertakes or promises to reward a voter to refrain from voting; (ii) gives, causes to be given to a voter or pays, undertakes or promises to pay wholly or in part to or for any voter, expenses for giving or providing any food, drinks refreshment or provision of any money, ticket or other means or device to enable the procurement of any food, drink or refreshment or provision to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate at the election or being about to vote or refrain from voting, for a particular candidate, at the election; or (b) after an election, gives, provides or pays any expense wholly or in part to or for any particular voter or any other voter for having voted or refrained from voting as aforesaid, commits the offence of treating.
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(2) A voter who accepts or takes any food, drink, refreshment, provision, any money or ticket, or adopts other means or devices to enable the procuring of food, drink, refreshment or provision knowing that it is intended to influence them commits the offence of treating. Undue influence. 63. (1) A person who, directly or indirectly in person or through another person on his behalf uses or threatens to use any force, violence including sexual violence, restraint, or material, physical or spiritual injury, harmful cultural practices, damage or loss, or any fraudulent device, trick or deception for the purpose of or on account of (a) inducing or compelling a person to vote or not to vote for a particular candidate or political party at an election; (b) impeding or preventing the free exercise of the franchise of a voter; (c) inducing or compelling a person to refrain from becoming a candidate or to withdraw if he has become a candidate; or (d) impeding or preventing a person from being nominated as a candidate or from being registered as a voter, commits the offence of undue influence. (2) A person who induces, influences or procures any other person to vote in an election knowing that the person is not entitled to vote in that election commits an offence. (3) A person who directly or indirectly by duress or intimidation (a) impedes, prevents or threatens to impede or prevent a voter from voting; or
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(b) in any manner influences the result of an election, commits an offence. (4) A person who directly or indirectly by duress, intimidation or otherwise compels or induces any voter who has already voted at an election (a) to inform that person or any other person of the name of the candidate or political party for which the voter has voted; or (b) to display the ballot paper on which the voter has marked his vote, commits an offence. Bribery. 64. (1) A candidate who (a) directly or indirectly in person or by any other person on his behalf gives, lends or agrees to give or lend, or offers, promises or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure any money or valuable consideration to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any voter or to or for any other person in order to induce any voter (i) to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate; (ii) to attend or participate in or refrain from attending or participating in any political meeting, march, demonstration or other event of a political nature or in some other manner lending support to or for an political party or candidate; (iii) corruptly does any such act on account of such voter having voted for or refrained from voting at any election, for a particular candidate; or
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(b) directly or indirectly, in person or by any other person on his behalf, gives or procures or agrees to give or procure, or offers, promises, or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure, any office, place, or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any voter (i) to vote for or refrain from voting for a particular candidate; or (ii) corruptly does any such act on account of such voter having voted for or refrained from voting; (c) in any manner unlawfully influences the result of an election; (d) directly or indirectly, in person or by any other person on his behalf, makes any gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement to or for any person in order to induce that person to (i) procure or endeavour to procure the election of any person; or (ii) procure the vote of any voter at any election; (e) upon or in consequence of any gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement, procures or engages, promises or endeavours to procure, the election of any person, or the vote of any voter at an election; (f) advances, pays or causes to be paid any money to, or to the use of any other person with the intent that such money or any part thereof shall be used in bribery at any election, or who knowingly pays or causes to be paid any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part used in bribery at any election; (g) being a voter, before or during any election directly or indirectly, in person or by any other
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person on his behalf receives, agrees or contracts for any money, gift, loan, or valuable consideration, office, place or employment for himself or for any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting for a particular candidate at any election; (h) after any election, directly or indirectly in person or by any other person on his behalf, receives any money or valuable consideration on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting or having induced any other person to vote or to refrain from voting for a particular candidate at the election; (i) directly or indirectly, in person or by any other person on his behalf, on account of and as payment for voting or for having voted or for agreeing or having agreed to vote for any candidate at an election, or an account of and as payment for his having assisted or agreed to assist any candidate at an election, applies to the candidate or to the agent of the candidate for a gift or loan of any money or valuable consideration, or for the promises of the gift or loan of any money or valuable consideration or for any office, place or employment or for the promise of any office, place or employment; or (j) directly or indirectly, in person or by any person on his behalf, in order to induce any other person to agree to be nominated as a candidate or to refrain from becoming a candidate or to withdraw if they have become candidates, gives or procures any office, place or employment to endeavour to procure any office, place or employment, to or for such other person, or gives or lends or agrees to give or lend, or offers or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure any money or valuable consideration to or for any person or to or for such other person on behalf of such other or to or for any person, commits the offence of bribery.
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(2) Any person who in consequence of that persons acceptance of any consideration votes or refrains from voting commits an offence. Use of force or violence during election period. 65. A person who, directly or indirectly in person or by any other person on his behalf, inflicts or threatens to inflict injury, damage, harm or loss on or against a person (a) so as to induce or compel that person to support a particular candidate or political party; (b) on account of such person having voted or refrained from voting; or (c) in order to induce or compel that person to vote in a particular way or refrain from voting, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both. Use of national security organs. 66. A candidate, or any other person who uses a public officer, or the national security organs to induce or compel any person to support a particular candidate or political party commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years or to both. Offences relating to elections. Corrigenda No 18/2012 67. (1) A person who (a) commits the offence of personation, treating, undue influence or bribery; (b) prints, publishes, distributes or posts up, or causes to be printed, published, distributed or posted up, any advertisement, handbill, placard or
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poster which refers to any election and which does not bear upon its face the names and addresses of the printer and publisher; (c) makes or publishes, before or during any election, for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of any candidate, any false statement of withdrawal of any other candidate at such election; (d) forges, defaces or destroys any nomination paper, or delivers to a returning officer any nomination paper knowing it to be forged; (e) interferes with election material by removing, destroying, concealing or mutilating or assists in the removal, destruction, concealment or mutilation of any such material save on the authority of the Commission or under the provisions of this Act; (f) directly or indirectly prints, manufactures or supplies or procures the printing, manufacture or supply of any election material in connection with the election save on the authority of the Commission; (g) interferes with free political canvassing and campaigning by (i) using language which is threatening, abusive or insulting or engages in any kind of action which may advocate hatred, incite violence or influence the voters on grounds of ethnicity, race, religion, gender or any other ground of discrimination; (ii) directly or indirectly, using the threat of force, violence, harassment or otherwise preventing the conduct of any political meeting, march, demonstration or other event of a political nature or any other person from attending or participating therein;
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(iii) creating a material disruption with the intention of preventing a political party from holding a public political meeting; (iv) impeding, preventing or threatening to impede or prevent the right of any representative of any political party from gaining access, in the manner and during the hours prescribed to voters in any particular area, whether public or private for the purposes of canvassing and campaigning and soliciting membership and support; or (v) impeding, preventing or threatening to impede or prevent a member of the Commission, a representative of the Commission or any other authorised person or organisation engaged in voter education from gaining access, in the manner and during the hours prescribed, to voters in any particular area, whether public or private, for the purposes of conducting voter education. (h) refuses or fails to effect a direction, instruction or lawful order issued by or on behalf of the Commission; (j) refuses or fails to leave an election counting centre or any area designated by the Commission for electoral purposes when so ordered in accordance with this Act; (j ) enters or remains in an election centre or in any area designated by the Commission for electoral purposes in contravention of this Act; (k) obstructs or hinders any elections officer, candidate or agent in the execution of their lawful duties; makes a false statement or furnishes false particulars in any statement which is required under this Act knowing the statement or particulars to be false or without reasonable grounds for believing the same to be true; or
(l)
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or
any the
(i) disrupting or preventing the election; (ii) creating hostility or fear in order to influence the process or outcome of the election; or (iii) otherwise unlawfully influencing the process or outcome of the election, or aids, abets counsels or procures the Commission of or attempts to commit any such offence; or (n) forges, defaces or destroys any campaign or promotional material of an opposing candidate or political party, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, in the cases specified in paragraph (a), to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years or to both, and in any other case, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both. (2) The offences specified in subsection (1)(a) shall be cognizable. Use of public resources. 68. (1) Except as authorised under this Act or any other written law, a candidate, referendum committee or other person shall not use public resources for the purpose of campaigning during an election or a referendum. (2) For the purposes of this section, the Commission shall, in writing require any candidate, who is a member of Parliament, a county governor, a deputy county governor or a member of a county assembly, to state the facilities attached to the candidate or any equipment normally in the custody of the candidate by virtue of that office.
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(3) A person who is requested to supply information required under subsection (2) shall submit the information within a period of fourteen days from the date of the notice. (4) The provisions of subsection (2) shall apply with necessary modifications, to an employee of a statutory corporation or of a company in which the Government owns a controlling interest. (5) A person who fails to comply with the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two million shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years or to both. (6) A member of the Commission or any person designated by the Commission shall have the power to impound or to order the impounding of any state resources that are unlawfully used in an election campaign. (7) A candidate, who after conviction under this section repeats the offence, shall(a) be disqualified by the Commission and shall not be eligible to participate in the ongoing election and the next election; and (b) be disqualified from holding any public office. Illegal Practices Certain expenditure illegal practice. 69. (1) A payment, contract for payment or any other consideration of any kind shall, for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of a candidate at any election, not be made (a) on account of the conveyance of voters to or from the poll, whether for the hiring of vehicles, vessels
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or animals of transport of any kind whatsoever, or for railway fares, or otherwise; or (b) to or with a voter on account of the use of any house, land, building, or premises for the exhibition of any address, bill or notice, or no account of the exhibition of any address bill or notice. (2) Upon the filing of an election petition in respect of an electoral area and prior to the conclusion of a byelection in respect of that electoral area where a court determines that a by-election is to be held, it shall be an offence to(a) knowingly register voters in the electoral area in which the by-election is to be held; (b) knowingly cause the registration of voters in the electoral area in which the byelection is to be held; or (c) transfer voters in substantial numbers to the electoral area in which a by-election is to be held. (3) Subject to any exception under this Act, if any payment or contract for payment is knowingly made in contravention of this section either before, during or after an election, the person making such payment commits an offence and any person receiving such payment or being a party to any such contract knowing it to be in contravention of this section commits the offence of an illegal practice. (4) A person shall not let, lend or employ, for the purpose of conveying voters to and from the poll, any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or animal of transport of any kind which they keep or use for the purposes of letting out for hire. (5) A person who lets, lends or employs a vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or animal of transport knowing that it is intended to be used to convey voters to and from a poll commits the offence of illegal practice.
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(6) A person who hires, borrows or uses for the purpose of conveying voters to and from a poll, any vehicle, vessel or animal of transport of any kind whatsoever which he knows the owner thereof is prohibited by subsection (4) to let, lend or employ for that purpose commit the offence of an illegal practice. (7) Nothing in subsection (4) or subsection (6) shall prevent an owner of a vehicle, vessel or animal of transport of any kind from letting, hiring or being employed or used by a voter or several voters at their joint cost for the purpose of conveying the voters to or from a poll. (8) Notwithstanding anything in this section (a) where it is the ordinary business of a voter as an advertising agent to exhibit for payment bills and advertisements, a payment to or contract with such voter if made in the ordinary course of business, shall not be deemed to be an illegal practice within the meaning of this section; and (b) where voters are unable at an election to reach their polling stations from their place of residence without crossing the sea or a tributary thereof or a river, means may be provided for conveying the voters to their polling stations or to enable them to cross in order to reach their polling stations. (9) The means of conveyance referred to in subsection (8) (b) shall be made available equally to all voters who wish to be conveyed to vote. Employers to allow employees reasonable period for voting. 70. (1) Every employer shall, on polling day, allow a voter in his employ a reasonable period for voting, and no employer shall make any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such voter or impose upon or exact from them any penalty by reason of his absence during such period. (2) An employer who directly or indirectly refuses, or
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by intimidation, undue influence, or in any other manner interferes with the granting to any voter in his employ of a reasonable period for voting as specified in subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years or to both. (3) This section shall not extend to such categories of employees as the Commission may, from time to time by notice in the Gazette designate, or to an employee who at the election in question is acting as an election officer within the meaning of this Act. (4) The provisions of this section shall bind the Government. Aiding and abetting offences under this Part. 71. (1) A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of or attempts to aid, abet, counsel, or procure the commission of an offence specified in this Part commits an offence. (2) An cognizable. offence under subsection (1) shall be
Election offence by candidate or political party. 72. (1) A candidate who, during a nomination or an election campaign engages in or knowingly aids or abets an agent or any person who supports the candidate to engage in bribery violence or intimidation against the opponents of the candidate or any other person, under this Part, shall be disqualified by the Commission and shall not be eligible to participate in the elections. (2) Where a political party knowingly nominates a candidate who does not meet the requirements of the Constitution, the political party commits an offence and shall be disqualified from nominating a candidate to contest in that election or in the next election in that electoral area. (3) Where the offence under subsection (2) is discovered
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(a) after the candidate has been nominated to contest in an election, that candidate shall be disqualified by the Commission and shall not be eligible to contest in that election; or (b) after the candidate has been elected, that candidate shall be disqualified by the Commission and shall not be eligible to contest in the next election. (4) Where a political party under subsection (2) commits an election offence which the Commission considers to be of a grave nature or continuously repeats the offence, the presidential candidate of the political party shall not be eligible to contest in a presidential election during the elections or subsequent election as a result of any vacancy in the office of the President where the presidential candidate knowingly abets or aids in the election offence. Postponement of elections by the Commission. 73. (1) The Commission may, where election offences of such a nature as to make it impossible for an election to proceed are committed in a constituency, county or ward and where it considers it necessary, postpone the elections in that constituency, county or ward for such a period as it may consider necessary. (2) Where a date has been appointed for holding an election and (a) there is reason to believe that a serious breach of peace is likely to occur if the election is held on that date; or (b) it is impossible to conduct the elections as a result of a natural disaster or other emergencies, the Commission may postpone the election and shall in respect of the constituency concerned, appoint another date for the holding of the postponed election. (3) Where an election is postponed under subsection
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(2), the election shall be held at the earliest practicable time. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Commission may, if satisfied that the result of the elections will not be affected by voting in the area in respect of which substituted dates have been appointed, direct that a return of the elections be made. PART VIIELECTION DISPUTES RESOLUTION Dispute resolution by the Commission Settlement of certain disputes. 74. (1) Pursuant to Article 88 (4) (e) of the Constitution, the Commission shall be responsible for the settlement of electoral disputes, including disputes relating to or arising from nominations but excluding election petitions and disputes subsequent to the declaration of election results. (2) An electoral dispute under subsection (1) shall be determined within seven days of the lodging of the dispute with the Commission. (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), where a dispute under subsection (1) relates to a prospective nomination or election, the dispute shall be determined before the date of the nomination or election, whichever is applicable Election Petitions County election petitions. 75. (1) A question as to validity of a county election shall be determined by High Court within the county or nearest to the county. (2) A question under subsection (1) shall be heard and determined within six months of the date of lodging the petition. (3) In any proceeding brought under this section, a
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court may grant appropriate relief, including (a) a declaration of whether or not the candidate whose election is questioned was validly elected; (b) a declaration of which candidate was validly elected; or (c) an order as to whether a fresh election will be held or not. Presentation of petitions. 76. (1) A petition (a) to question the validity of an election shall be filed within twenty eight days after the date of publication of the results of the election in the Gazette and served within fifteen days of presentation; (b) to seek a declaration that a seat in Parliament or a county assembly has not become vacant shall be presented within twenty-eight days after the date of publication of the notification of the vacancy by the relevant Speaker; or (c) to seek a declaration that a seat in Parliament has become vacant may be presented at any time. (2) A petition questioning a return or an election upon the ground of a corrupt practice, and specifically alleging a payment of money or other act to have been made or done since the date aforesaid by the person whose election is questioned or by an agent of that person or with the privity of that person or his agent may, so far as respects the corrupt practice, be filed at any time within twenty-eight days after the publication of the election results in the Gazette. (3) A petition questioning a return or an election upon an allegation of an illegal practice and alleging a payment of money or other act to have been made or done since the date aforesaid by the person whose election is questioned, or by an agent of that person, or
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with the privity of that person or his election agent in pursuance or in furtherance of the illegal practice alleged in the petition, may, so far as respects the illegal practice, be filed at any time within twenty-eighty days after the publication of the election results in the Gazette; (4) A petition filed in time may, for the purpose of questioning a return or an election upon an allegation of an election offence, be amended with the leave of the election court within the time within which the petition questioning the return or the election upon that ground may be presented. (5) A petition filed in respect of the matters set out in subsections (2) and (3) may, where a petition has already been presented on other grounds, be presented as a supplemental petition. Service of petition. 77. (1) A petition concerning an election, other than a presidential election, shall be filed within twenty-eight days after the declaration of the election results by the Commission. (2) A petition may be served personally upon a respondent or by advertisement in a newspaper with national circulation. Security for costs. 78. (1) A petitioner shall deposit security for the payment of costs that may become payable by the petitioner not more than ten days after the presentation of a petition under this Part. (2) A person who presents a petition to challenge an election shall deposit (a) one million shillings, in the case of a petition against a presidential candidate; (b) five hundred thousand shillings, in the case of petition against a member of Parliament or a county governor; or
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(c) one hundred thousand shillings, in the case of a petition against a member of a county assembly. (3) Where a petitioner does not deposit security as required by this section, or if an objection is allowed and not removed, no further proceedings shall be heard on the petition and the respondent may apply to the election court for an order to dismiss the petition and for the payment of the respondent's costs. (4) The costs of hearing and deciding an application under subsection (3) shall be paid as ordered by the election court, or if no order is made, shall form part of the general costs of the petition. (5) An election court that releases the security for costs deposited under this section shall release the security after hearing all the parties before the release of the security. Procedure of election court on receipt of petition. 79. Upon receipt of a petition, an election court shall peruse the petition and (a) if it considers that no sufficient ground for granting the relief claimed is disclosed therein may reject the petition summarily; or (b) fix a date for the trial of the petition. Powers of election court. 80. (1) An election court may, in the exercise of its jurisdiction (a) summon and swear in witnesses in the same manner or, as nearly as circumstances admit, as in a trial by a court in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction and impose the same penalties for the giving of false evidence; (b) compel the attendance of any person as a witness who appears to the court to have been concerned
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in the election or in the circumstances of the vacancy or alleged vacancy; (c) examine a witness who is compelled to attend or any other person who has not been called as a witness in court, and examined by a party to the petition and after examination the witness may be cross examined by or on behalf of the petitioner and respondent or either of them; and (d) decide all matters that come before it without undue regard to technicalities. (2) A person who refuses to obey an order to attend court commits the offence of contempt of court. (3) Interlocutory matters in connection with a petition challenging results of presidential, parliamentary or county elections shall be heard and determined by the election court. (4) An election court may by order direct the Commission to issue a certificate of election to a President, a member of Parliament or a member of a county assembly if (a) upon recount of the ballots cast, the winner is apparent; and (b) that winner is found not to have committed an election offence. (5) The Commission shall, in writing, notify the relevant Speaker of the decision made under subsection (4). Prohibition of disclosure of vote. 81. A voter who has voted at an election shall not, in the proceedings of an election petition, be required to state whom they voted for. Scrutiny of votes. 82. (1) An election court may, on its own motion or
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on application by any party to the petition, during the hearing of an election petition, order for a scrutiny of votes to be carried out in such manner as the election court may determine. (2) Where the votes at the trial of an election petition are scrutinized, only the following votes shall be struck off (a) the vote of a person whose name was not on the register or list of voters assigned to the polling station at which the vote was recorded or who had not been authorised to vote at that station; (b) the vote of a person whose vote was procured by bribery, treating or undue influence; (c) the vote of a person who committed or procured the commission of personation at the election; (d) the vote of a person proved to have voted in more than one constituency; (e) the vote of a person, who by reason of conviction for an election offence or by reason of the report of the election court, was disqualified from voting at the election; or (f) the vote cast for a disqualified candidate by a voter knowing that the candidate was disqualified or the facts causing the disqualification, or after sufficient public notice of the disqualification or when the facts causing it were notorious. (3) The vote of a voter shall not, except in the case specified in subsection (1) (e), be struck off under subsection (1) by reason only of the voter not having been or not being qualified to have the voters name entered on the register of voters. Non compliance with the law. 83. No election shall be declared to be void by reason of non-compliance with any written law relating to that election if it appears that the election was conducted
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in accordance with the principles laid down in the Constitution and in that written law or that the noncompliance did not affect the result of the election. Costs. 84. An election court shall award the costs of and incidental to a petition and such costs shall follow the cause. Determination of election petition. 85. An election petition under this Act shall be heard and determined within the period specified in the Constitution Certificate of court as to validity of election. 86. (1) An election court shall, at the conclusion of the hearing of an election petition, determine the validity of any question raised in the petition, and shall certify its determination to the Commission which shall then notify the relevant Speaker. (2) Upon receipt of a certificate under this section, the relevant Speaker shall give the necessary directions for altering or confirming the return, and shall issue any notification which may be necessary. Report of court on election offences. 87. (1) An election court shall, at the conclusion of the hearing of a petition, in addition to any other orders, send to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commission and the relevant Speaker a report in writing indicating whether an election offence has been committed by any person in connection with the election, and the names and descriptions of the persons, if any, who have been proved at the hearing to have been guilty of an election offence. (2) Before a person, not being a party to an election petition or a candidate on whose behalf the seat is claimed by an election petition, is reported by an election court, the elections court shall give that person an
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opportunity to be heard and to give and call evidence to show why he should not be reported. (3) The relevant Speaker shall publish a report made under this section in the Gazette, and the Commission shall consider the report and delete from the register of voters, the name of a person who is disqualified from being registered in that register of voters. Referendum Petitions Election petition procedures to apply to referendum petition. 88. Unless specifically provided for in this Act, the procedure applicable to an election petition shall apply to a referendum petition. Referendum petition. 89. (1) The conduct, result and validity of a referendum may be challenged by petition to the High Court. (2) A petition challenging the conduct, result or validity of a referendum shall (a) set out the facts relied on to invalidate the referendum; (b) identify the specific matter or matters on which the petitioner relies as justifying the grant of relief; (c) contain a request for the relief to which the petitioner claims to be entitled; and (d) be filed in the High Court within twenty one days of the publication of the notice of the results of the referendum in the Gazette. (3) A referendum petition may be presented on any of the following grounds
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(a) in respect of the result of the voting in all the constituencies or in any one constituency, that corrupt practices prevailed at or in relation to the voting at the referendum in that constituency, or that there was an error or misconduct, whether by act or omission, on the part of a referendum officer; or (b)in respect of the declared result of the referendum, that there was an error in the counting or tallying of the votes cast in the referendum. Composition of Court. 90. A referendum petition shall be heard and determined by a bench of three judges appointed by the Chief Justice. Operation of declared result of issue submitted to referendum. 91. (1) Where a referendum petition is not presented to the High Court within the time specified in section 89 (2) (d), the declared result of referendum shall (a) have effect from the date on which the result is gazetted; (b) be final and not be challenged in any court of law; and (c) be conclusive evidence of the voting at the referendum and of the result of the referendum. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing or delaying the coming into operation of any law in respect of which a referendum is held pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution or any other written law if (a) it is stated in the declared result of the referendum that the provisions of the Act are supported by the votes of a majority of the persons entitled to vote in the referendum; and
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(b)
the question raised by any referendum petition or, if more than one, by all referendum petitions presented to the High Court in respect of such referendum would not, if decided in favour of the petitioner or petitioners, as the case may be, lead to a declaration by the Commission that the votes of a majority of the persons entitled to vote in such referendum did not support the provisions of the said law.
Persons who may present referendum petition. Corrigenda No. 18/2012 92. (1) A referendum petition may be presented in the High Court by (a) in the case of a petition in respect of the result of the voting in a constituency, a person who voted lawfully or had a right to vote in that constituency at the referendum; (b) in the case of a petition in respect of the declared result of the referendum, a person who voted at the referendum or had a right to vote at the referendum; or (c) in any other case, the Commission. (2) A petitioner who presents a referendum petition shall serve all the respondents to the petition within seven days of filing the petition. (3) A petitioner shall publish a notice of the petition in the Gazette and in at least one newspaper of national circulation, within fourteen days after the petition is filed. (4) A petition may be served personally upon the respondent or by advertisement in a newspaper with national circulation. Respondents to referendum petition. 93. (1) Where, at the hearing of a referendum petition, a person is alleged to have been guilty of a
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corrupt practice in relation to the referendum, or where a copy of a referendum petition is served on a particular person on the direction of the High Court, the High Court may, on the application of that person, add or name that person as a respondent to the petition. Where, at the trial of a referendum petition presented by the Commission, a question of law arises in relation to action or omission by a referendum officer, the High Court may, on the application of the Attorney-General, name the referendum officer as a respondent to the petition. Filing of referendum petition. 94. (1) A referendum petition shall be signed by the petitioner or by all the petitioners, if more than one. (2) Whenever a referendum petition is presented under this section, the Registrar of the High Court shall, in writing, inform the Commission of the filing. Duty of Registrar to make list of referendum petitions. 95. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the Registrar of the High Court shall make a list of all the referendum petitions filed under this Part in the order in which they are filed, and shall keep in the Registrars office, a copy of the list which shall be open for inspection by any person who applies to inspect the list. (2) A referendum petition shall, unless the High Court orders otherwise, be tried in the order in which it appears on the list made by the Registrar under subsection (1). (3) Where more than one petition is presented relating to the same referendum, all such petitions shall be dealt with as one petition as far as the inquiry into the referendum is concerned. Practice procedure and security for costs. 96. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 98, the Rules Committee as constituted under the Civil Procedure Act (Cap. 21), may make rules generally to regulate the practice and procedure of the High Court with respect to
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the filing and trial of referendum petitions, including rules (a) specifying (i) the time within which any requirement of the rules is to be complied with; (ii) the costs of and incidental to the filing and the trial of a referendum petition; and (iii) the fees to be charged in respect proceedings of a referendum petition; and of
(b) generally with regard to any other matter relating to a referendum petition as the Chief Justice may deem necessary. (2) A petitioner shall deposit one million shillings as security for costs of a petition presented under this Act, within ten days of presenting the petition. (3) Where, a petitioner does not deposit security for costs as required under this section after presenting of a referendum petition, the referendum petition shall be struck out. (4) The High Court may, make such order as to costs as it may deem fit and just in respect of any referendum petition dismissed under this section. Death of or delay by petitioner. 97. Where there are two or more petitioners and one or more of the petitioners dies or die at any time before the final order of the court hearing the petition, the surviving petitioner or petitioners shall be entitled to continue with the petition. Hearing of referendum petition. 98. (1) A referendum petition shall be (a) heard and determined within six months from the date of presentation of a petition; and
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(b) heard in open court. (2) The High Court may, in respect of the trial of a referendum petition, exercise such powers within its civil jurisdiction as it may deem appropriate. (3) A referendum petition may be withdrawn by the petitioner on notice to the other parties and the High Court, subject to any order of the Court as to costs. Powers of a court to summon witnesses in a referendum petition. 99. (1) A Court hearing a referendum petition may, at the hearing of the petition (a) order any person who appears to the court to be concerned in or affected by the referendum petition to attend as a witness at such hearing; and (b) examine any witness or any person who is present at the hearing even if the witness or person is not called as a witness by any party to the proceedings: Provided that after examination by the court, the witness or person may be cross-examined by or on behalf of the petitioner or the respondent. (2) Where a person is ordered to attend as a witness under subsection (1), the Court may direct that a copy of the referendum petition be served on that person. (3) A person who is called as a witness at the trial of a referendum petition shall not be excused from answering any question relating to any offence connected with the referendum on the ground that the answer thereto may incriminate them or on the ground of privilege. (4) Notwithstanding subsection (3)
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(a) a witness who answers every question which they are required to answer under this section to the satisfaction of the court, and the answers to which may tend to incriminate them, shall not be liable to prosecution for any offence committed by them in connection with the referendum and in respect of which they are so examined, and shall be entitled to receive a certificate of indemnity issued by the Registrar stating that the person is discharged from liability and shall not be prosecuted for that offence; and (b) an answer by a witness to a question before the Court under this section shall not, except in the case of any criminal proceedings for giving false evidence in respect of such evidence, be admissible as evidence in any civil or criminal proceedings against them. (5) Where a person has received a certificate of indemnity under subsection (3), and legal proceedings are, at any time, brought against that person for an offence to which the certificate relates, the court having cognizance of the case shall, on proof of the certificate of indemnity, stay such proceedings. (6) All reasonable expenses incurred by any person in attending at or appearing before the High Court to give evidence as a witness at the trial of a referendum petition shall be paid to such person according to the scale of allowances and expenses appropriate in civil proceedings before the High Court. Prohibition of disclosure of vote. 100. A voter who has voted at a referendum shall not, in proceedings to question the referendum be required to state how he voted. Examination of votes. 101. (1) The High Court on its own motion or on an application by a petitioner may, during the hearing of a referendum petition, order for a scrutiny of votes to be carried out in such manner as the High Court may
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(2) The provisions of section 82 shall apply with respect to scrutiny of votes under this section. Powers of Court. 102. (1) At the conclusion of the hearing of a referendum petition challenging the conduct or result of the referendum, the High Court may (a) dismiss the petition; (b) declare the published result to be incorrect; (c) declare the referendum to be void; or (d) uphold the petition in whole or in part. (2) Without limiting the generality of this section, the High Court may exercise its powers to declare a referendum void on the ground that this Act or the regulations made under this Act were contravened during the referendum, and such contravention has seriously affected the result of the referendum. (3) The Registrar of the High Court shall deliver to the Commission a certified copy of any decision made by the High Court under subsection (1). (4) The Registrar of the High Court shall, at the conclusion of the proceedings in respect of a referendum petition, submit to the Commission a certificate under the Registrars hand, stating that the hearing of the referendum petition has been concluded, and the Commission shall, upon receipt of such certificate, declare and publish the result of the referendum in accordance with the findings of the High Court. (5) A declaration made by the Commission under subsection (4) shall be final, shall not be challenged in any court, and shall be conclusive evidence of the voting at the referendum to which it relates and of the result of such referendum.
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(6) Where the High Court declares a referendum void, the Commission shall conduct a fresh referendum. Petition expenses. 103. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, all costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to the presentation and hearing of a referendum petition shall be borne in such manner and in such proportions as the High Court may order, and in particular, any costs which, in the opinion of the High Court, have been caused by any vexatious conduct or by any frivolous or vexatious allegations or objections on the part of the petitioner or of the respondent, may be ordered to be paid by the party by whom such costs have been caused. (2) Where in the hearing of a referendum petition a person appears to the High Court to have been guilty of any corrupt practice relating to the referendum, the High Court may, after giving that person an opportunity to make a statement to show why the order should not be made, order the whole or a portion of the costs of or incidental to the trial of the referendum petition to be paid by that person to such person or persons as the High Court may determine. (3) Money deposited as security shall, when no longer needed as security for costs, be returned to the person in whose name it is deposited or to any person entitled to receive the money by order of the High Court, which may be made upon motion after notice and proof that all just claims have been satisfied or otherwise sufficiently provided for as the High Court may require. Certification of referendum. 104. In any prosecution for an offence under this Act alleged to have been committed at or in connection with a referendum in any constituency, the certificate of the returning officer for that constituency stating that the referendum mentioned therein was being or had been held shall be sufficient evidence of the fact that the referendum was being or had been held in that constituency.
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PART VIIIGENERAL PROVISIONS Duty to co-operate. 105. (1) It shall be the duty of every public officer and public or private entity to co-operate with the Commission in its activities during an election and not to hinder the Commission in carrying out its functions. (2) It shall be the duty of police officers in their respective areas of operation, to take all necessary measures for the maintenance of law and order and stability necessary for the conduct of an election and to protect and uphold the rights of all persons under any written law relating to elections. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the law relating to the National Police Service or any other written law, a police officer assigned duties during the conduct of an election or referendum shall be deemed to be an elections officer for purposes of this Act and subject to direction and instruction of the Commission. (4) It shall be the duty of (a) all officers of the county administration, in their respective administrative units; (b) all persons in charge of local authority facilities; (c) persons in charge of facilities; (d) all political parties and members of the public; (e) all persons in charge of public utilities including teachers in charge of public schools; (f) the Registrar of Persons; and (g) the Registrar of Political Parties, to give the Commission and its officers the support and collaboration necessary for the Commission to execute the
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activities relating to the conduct of an election. General penalty. 106. (1) A person who contravenes a provision in this Act for which a penalty has not been provided for, commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both. (2) An offence under this Act relating to an election shall, with necessary modifications, be an offence during a referendum. (3) A person who is convicted of an offence under this Act shall not be eligible for election or nomination in an election under this Act for a period of five years following the date of conviction. Powers of arrest and prosecution. 107. (1) A member of the Commission or any officer designated by the Commission may order the arrest of a person who commits an offence under this Act. (2) The Commission shall have the power to prosecute any offences under this Act and impose sanctions against a person who commits an offence under this Act pending the hearing and determination of the offence. (3) A member of the Commission or any person designated by the Commission shall have the power to impound or to order the impounding of any state resources that are used in an election campaign. Airtime by state radio and television for election campaign. 108. All candidates and political parties participating in an election shall be allocated reasonable airtime on state radio and television broadcasting services during the campaign period.
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109. (1) The Commission may make regulations generally for the better carrying out of the purposes and provisions of this Act, and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may make regulations to (a) prescribe the manner in which registers of voters shall be compiled and the manner in which they shall be revised; (b) prescribe the procedure for registration and issuance of voters cards and provide for the progressive registration of Kenyan citizens living abroad; (c) to provide for the regulation of the process by which parties nominate candidates for elections; (d) to provide for the manner of nomination , allocation and re-allocation of special seats and mechanisms for resolving disputes arising out of such nomination, allocation and re-allocation; (e) prescribe the procedure for making and determining claims to be registered and objections to registration;
(f) authorise any registration officer to consider or determine any application, claim, objection or appeal, to summon any person to appear before them and give evidence on oath, and to administer an oath for that purpose and to order the production of any document relevant to any issue which the officer is required to consider and determine; (g) provide for the division of constituencies into units for the purpose of the registration of voters; (h) prescribe the conditions under which elections may be held in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, this Act or any other written law relating to elections;
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(i) prescribe the amount of the deposit to be paid by or on behalf of candidates at all elections and the circumstances in which the deposit may be forfeited; (j) provide for the appointment of officers to preside at polling stations; (k) prescribe the facilities to be provided at polling stations and the persons who may be admitted to polling stations; (l) prescribe the place and manner in which votes may be cast and the construction and scaling of ballot boxes and provide for the issue a ballot papers to voters; (m) provide for the manner in which, and the person by whom any question as to the identity of any person claiming the right to vote shall be determined; (n) provide for the manner in which a voter who is not able to read or write may vote or be assisted in voting; (o) provide for the manner in which a voter with special needs including a person with a disability may vote or be assisted in voting; (p) prescribe the procedure to be followed in the counting of votes and the circumstances in which votes may be rejected by a returning officers as being invalid; (q) prescribe conditions for the use of private motor vehicles, vessels or buildings at elections; (r) prescribe the facilities to be provided during the electoral process and in particular, for voting by electronic machines and the persons entitled so to vote and the circumstances in which persons may so vote;
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(s) provide for the allocation by the Commission, in a just and equitable manner of the use of state owned radio and television broadcasting services during any election period; (t) prescribe the procedure to be adopted by the public in making representations for the alteration of electoral area boundaries; (u) prescribe the forms which may be used under this Act and the fees in respect of anything to be done under this Act; (v) prescribe the procedure for advance voting for special categories including patients admitted in hospital, pastoralists, armed forces, elections officers and other citizens of Kenya providing essential services; (w) prescribe the procedure for voting for citizens residing outside Kenya; (x) provide for complaints resolution mechanisms and for the manner of settlement of electoral disputes.
(y) provide for the conduct of election observers, the media, monitors and evaluators and organisations carrying out civic and voter education; (z) provide with reasonable postponement of elections; grounds for the
(aa) provide for mechanisms for carrying out effective voter education; (bb) provide for the mode of declaration of the result of an election; (cc) prescribe the manner of enforcing the Electoral Code of Conduct; or (dd) provide for the conduct of campaigns during a referendum or an election;
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(ee) provide for the financing of campaigns during a referendum or an election; (ff) prescribe anything which is required to be prescribed or is necessary or desirable for the better giving effect to this Act. (2) The power to make regulations conferred on the Commission under this Act shall be (a) for the purpose and objective of giving effect to the Constitution and this Act; (b) limited to the nature and scope specifically stipulated in the Constitution and this Act; and (c) based on the general principles and standards contained in the Constitution and this Act. (3) The power to make regulations shall be exercised only after a draft of the proposed regulations has been approved by the National Assembly, at least six months preceding a general election. Electoral code of conduct. 110. (1) Every political party and every person who participates in an election or referendum under the Constitution and this Act shall subscribe to and observe the Electoral Code of Conduct set out in the Second Schedule in such manner as the Commission may, subject to paragraph 6 of that Schedule, determine. (2) A political party that is eligible to nominate candidates under the Constitution, this Act or any other written law shall not be eligible to contest in any election unless the political party and the candidate have subscribed to the Electoral Code of Conduct referred to in subsection (1). (3) Every officer of a political party or a referendum committee which, and every nominated candidate who, attempts to participate in or participates in an election or referendum without subscribing to the Electoral Code of Conduct commits an offence and is liable on conviction to
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a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years or to both. (4) Any person who contravenes the Electoral Code of Conduct commits an offence. (5) The trial of an offence under this section shall be without prejudice to any proceedings in or consequent upon a petition. (6) Subject to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Commission may designate any of its officers to conduct any prosecution for an offence under this Act and the Electoral Code of Conduct, and such officer shall, for that purpose, have all the powers conferred upon a public prosecutor by the Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Code(Cap. 75). Repeals. 111. The National Assembly and Presidential Elections Act (Cap. 7) and the Election Offences Act (Cap 66) are repealed. Transitional provisions. 112. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act (a) the register of voters prepared under the National Assembly and Presidential Elections Act shall be deemed to have been prepared under this Act; (b) a voters cards issued under the National Assembly and Presidential Elections Act shall be deemed to have been issued under this Act;
(c) an election official holding office immediately before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to have been appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act; and (d) an election petition filed under the National Assembly and Presidential Elections Act shall be deemed to have been filed under this Act.
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FIRST SCHEDULE
(S. 22(2))
ELECTION OF SPEAKER OF COUNTY ASSEMBLY 1. A speaker of a county assembly shall be elected when the county assembly first meets after a general election and before the county assembly proceeds with the dispatch of any other business. 2. If the office of speaker falls vacant at any time before the dissolution of the county assembly, another member of the assembly shall be elected to preside over the transaction of business until after the election of a new speaker. 3. The clerk of the county assembly shall preside over the election under paragraph (2). 4. The names of candidates for election to the office of speaker shall be entered upon nomination papers obtained from and handed to the clerk, at least forty-eight hours before the time appointed at which the county assembly is to meet to elect a speaker, and shall be accompanied in each case, by signatures of two members who support the candidate and a declaration by them that the candidate is willing to serve and that the candidate is qualified to be elected as a member of the county assembly under this Act. 5. The clerk shall maintain a register in which shall be shown the date and time when each candidates nomination papers were received and shall ascertain that every such candidate for election to the office of speaker is qualified to be elected as such under this Act. 6. The election of the speaker shall be by secret ballot.
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7. The clerk shall prepare, at least one hour before the meeting of the county assembly, ballot papers upon which shall be shown the names of all candidates validly nominated under paragraph (5) and shall issue not more than one such paper to each member who comes to the table to obtain it. 8. The clerk shall, at the commencement of each ballot, cause the ballot box, empty and unlocked, to be displayed to the county assembly and shall, in the presence of the county assembly, lock the box, which shall thereafter be kept in the full view of the county assembly until the conclusion of the ballot. 9. Each member of the county assembly who wishes to vote shall proceed to a booth or designated area provided by the clerk for that purpose and located next to and within reasonable distance of the ballot box and shall, whilst therein, mark the ballot paper by placing a mark in the space opposite the name of the candidate for whom the member wishes to vote, fold the marked ballot paper before leaving the booth or area and place the folded ballot paper in the ballot box: Provided that a member who, before the conclusion of a ballot has marked a paper in error may, by returning it to the clerk, obtain another in its place and the clerk shall immediately cancel and destroy the paper so returned. 10. The clerk shall make such arrangements as may be necessary to enable any member with disability to vote. 11. When it appears to the clerk that all members who are present and who wish to vote have placed their ballot papers in the ballot box, the clerk shall unlock the box, examine the ballot papers and, having rejected those unmarked or spoilt, report the result of the ballot; and no member who has not already recorded his or her vote shall be entitled to do so after the clerk has unlocked the ballot box.
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12. A person shall not be elected as speaker of a county assembly, unless supported by votes of two-thirds of all the members of the county assembly and if no candidate is supported by the votes of two-thirds of all the members, the candidate who in that ballot receives the highest number of votes and the candidate who in the ballot receives the next highest number shall alone stand for election in a further ballot and the candidate who receives the highest number of votes on the further ballot shall be elected speaker. 13. A candidate may, by written notice to the clerk, withdraw his or her name before a ballot is started, and in the event of such withdrawal, the clerk shall cross the name of that candidate off any ballot papers issued for that or any subsequent ballot. 14. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this schedule, if there is only one candidate who has been duly nominated, that candidate shall be declared forthwith to have been elected speaker, without any ballot or minimum vote being required. SECOND SCHEDULE (S. 51(6), 110(1))
ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT (1) This Code shall be subscribed to by (a) every political party participating in the election of a president, a member of Parliament, a county governor, a member of a county assembly; (b) every candidate; and (c) every leader, chief agent, agent or official of a referendum committee.
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(2) This Code shall, in so far as it is applicable, bind the Government and every political party, leader, office bearer, agent and member of a political party or a person who supports a political party, and every candidate nominated under the electoral laws for any election. (3) All registered political parties and referendum committees shall execute this Code through the hand of their respective registered officials to signify their acceptance to be bound by the provisions of this Code and their commitment to strive to ensure that their members and any person who supports the political party abide by the code at all stages of elections and referendum. 2. In requiresthis Code, unless the context otherwise
Committee means the Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee; electoral constituency; area means a ward, county or
election court means the Supreme Court in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred upon it by Article 163 (3) (a), the High Court in the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred upon it by Article 165 (3) (a) of the Constitution, or the High Court in the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred upon it by this Act electoral laws means the Constitution, the Elections Act and subsidiary legislation made thereunder as they relate to the presidential, parliamentary, county elections and the referendum. 3. The object of this Code is to promote conditions conducive to the conduct of free and fair elections and a climate of tolerance in which political activity may take place without fear, coercion, intimidation or reprisals. 4. All registered political parties and other persons bound by this Code shall endeavour to promote the object of the code to enable free political campaigning and open public debate to take place in all parts of Kenya during an election period.
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5. Registered political parties, referendum committees, officials of political parties and referendum committees and candidates do, by subscribing to this Code, further commit themselves to (a) adhere to the values and principles of the Constitution; (b) give wide publicity to this Code; (c) promote voter education campaigns; (d) condemn, avoid and take steps to prevent violence and intimidation; (e) instruct their candidates, office-bearers, agents, members and persons who support the political party of their obligations under this Code; (f) promote gender equality; (g) promote ethnic tolerance; (h) promote cultural diversity; (i) promote the fair representation of special interest groups; (j) generally affirm the rights of all participants in an election to (i) express divergent political opinions; (ii) debate and contest the programmes of other parties; policies and
(iii) canvass freely for membership and support from voters; (iv) subject to the Public Order Act hold public meetings; (v) attend public meetings convened by others;
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(vi) distribute non-offensive electoral literature and campaign materials; (vii) publish and distribute non-offensive notices and advertisements; (viii) erect non-offensive banners, placards and posters; (ix) remove all banners, placards and posters erected during the election period; (x) promote free electoral campaigns by all lawful means; and (xi) co-operate with the Commission and the relevant Government agencies and other authorities in the investigation of issues and allegations arising during the election period. 6. All those bound by this Code shall, throughout an election period (a) publicly and repeatedly condemn violence and intimidation and avoid the use of hate speech, language or any kind of action which may lead to violence or intimidation, whether to demonstrate party strength, gain any kind of advantage, or for any other reason; (b) refrain from any action involving violence or intimidation; (c) ensure that no arms or weapons of any kind are carried or displayed at political meetings or any march, demonstration or other event of a political nature; (d) refrain from campaigning in places of worship or during burial ceremonies; (e) co-operate and liaise in good faith with other parties to avoid organizing public meetings, demonstrations, rallies or marches to take place at
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the same time and venue as similar political events organized by other parties; (f) do nothing to impede the right of any party, through its candidates, canvassers and representatives, to have reasonable access to voters for the purposes of conducting voter education, fund raising, canvassing membership and soliciting support; (g) avoid plagiarizing the symbols, colours or acronyms of other parties; and to discourage and, if possible, prevent the removal, disfigurement or destruction of political campaign materials of any party;
(h) refrain from offering any document or reward to any person in consideration of such person either joining or not joining any party; attending or not attending any political event; voting or not voting (either at all, or in any particular manner); or accepting, refusing or withdrawing such person's nomination as a candidate in the election; (i) refrain from any attempt to abuse a position of power, privilege or influence, including parental, patriarchal, state or traditional authority for political purposes including any offer of reward or threat of penalty; (j) avoid any discrimination based on race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth in connection with the election and political activity; (k) in relation to the Commission (i) acknowledge the authority of the Commission in the conduct of the election or referendum; (ii) ensure the attendance and participation of representatives at meetings of any party liaison committee and other forums convened by or on behalf of the Commission;
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(iii) mplement the orders and directions of the Commission; (iv) facilitate the Commissions right of access through official observers and other representatives to all public political meetings or other electoral activities; (v) co-operate in the official investigation of issues and allegations arising during an election period; (vi) take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of observers and other representatives of the Commission from exposure to insult, hazard or threat in the course of their official duties; (vii) to establish and maintain effective lines of communication with the Commission; and (viii) to abide by the provisions of this Code; (l) reassure voters with regard to the impartiality of the Commission and the secrecy and integrity of the ballot, and to reaffirm that no one should know how any other person has voted; (m) take reasonable steps to discipline and restrain their party office-bearers, employees, candidates, members and persons who support the political party who(i) infringe this Code; (ii) engage in activities of commission or omission which constitute offences under the electoral laws or otherwise fail to observe this Code; and (iii) contravene or fail to comply provision of the electoral laws; (n) with any
agree for party office bearers, employees, candidates members and persons who support the political party to submit to the disciplinary
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procedures of the Commission for any violation of this Code; and (o) without prejudice to the right to present a petition to an election court, accept the final outcome of the election and the Commissions declaration and certification of the results thereof. 7. Where, in the opinion of the Commission, any political party or referendum committee participating in any election or referendum or the leader, office-bearer or member of a political party or person who supports the political party or referendum committee or any candidate at any election, in any way infringes any provision of this Code, the Commission may (a) in the case of a political party and, subject to sub-paragraph (b), and in the case of the leader, any office-bearer or member of a political party or person who supports the political party referendum committee or candidate, impose upon that political party one or more of the following penalties or sanctions which any or all may be suspended on specific conditions (i) a formal warning; (ii) a fine determined by the Commission; (iii) notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law, an order prohibiting the political party, whether permanently or for a specified period, from utilizing any public media time, through the television or radio broadcasting service of such media as have been or may be allocated to the political party for electoral purposes; (vi) an order prohibiting the political party, referendum committee or candidate from (aa) holding particular public meetings, demonstrations or marches, or any kind of meeting, demonstration or march;
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(bb) entering any specified electoral area for purposes of canvassing for membership, or for any other electoral purpose; (cc) erecting placards or banners, or from publishing and distributing campaign literature; (dd) publishing or distributing campaign literature and electoral advertising or limiting the rights of the political party to do so, and such prohibition or limitation shall be notified to the relevant regulating officers under the Public Order Act in the affected places or electoral areas for purposes of the Act; (ee) in the case of the leader, candidate, an officebearer or member of a political party or person who supports the political party or referendum committees impose any one or more of the penalties or sanctions referred to in subparagraph (a) (i) or (ii) of this paragraph; (b) Where a political party, referendum committee, leader or any office bearer, member or person who supports the political party, referendum committee or any candidate at an election fails, neglects or refuses to comply with the orders of the Commission issued under paragraph 7 (a), the Commission shall impose upon the defaulting party any of the following sanctions which may be suspended on specific conditions
(i) in case of fine imposed, prohibit the defaulting party from participating in ongoing and future elections as candidates in case of a defaulting candidate or prohibit the political party or the referendum committee official from participating in ongoing elections and referendum, and future elections or referendum or any activity facilitated by the Commission until such fine has been paid; (ii) in case of failure to comply with any other sanctions imposed, cancel the right of such
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(iii) file execution proceedings in the High Court to enforce the recovery of the fine. 8. A fine imposed by the Commission under this Code shall be registered in the High Court. 9. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 7, the Commission may either of its own motion or in consequence of any report made to it, institute proceedings in the High Court as may be appropriate in the case of any alleged infringement of this Code by a political party or by the leader, any office-bearer or member of a political party or person who supports a political party or any candidate and where the Court finds the infringement of the provisions of this Code(a) in the case of a political party, any act or omission involving violence, intimidation or a gross or systematic violation of the rights of any political party, candidate or voter, the Court may, in addition to or in substitution for any other penalty or sanction specified in paragraph 7(a), make an order cancelling the right of such party to participate in the election concerned; or (b) in the case of the leader, any office-bearer or member of a political party or person who supports the political party or of any candidate, that any act or omission involving violence or intimidation or gross or systematic violation of the rights of any political party candidate or voter, the Court may in addition to or in substitution of any other penalty or sanction specified in paragraph 7(a) (i) and (ii), make an order disqualifying, in the case of a person who is a candidate, that person from being a candidate or deleting the name of that candidate from the list or lists of candidates concerned. 10. In making its decision regarding appropriate penalties or sanctions, the Commission or, as the case may be, the High Court shall have regard to any other
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legal consequences that may result from civil or criminal proceedings instituted by reason of the same occurrence. 11. The High Court shall ensure that any proceedings initiated under paragraph 9 are dealt with in priority to all other matters brought before it, and that the decision of that Court is given before the date of the election concerned. 12. The procedure of the High Court in cases falling within the provisions of this Code shall, without prejudice to paragraph 9, be in accordance with such Rules of Procedure as shall from time to time be promulgated by the Chief Justice. 13. Every registered political party, referendum committee, candidate and agent (a) shall respect the role of the media before, during and after an election or referendum conducted under this Act; (b) may not prevent access by members of the media to public political meetings, marches, demonstrations and rallies; and (c) shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that journalists are not subjected to harassment, intimidation, hazard, threat or physical assault by any of their representatives or persons who supports the candidate or political party. 14. Every media house and its representative shall (a) adhere to the media professional ethics in its coverage of public meetings, campaign rallies and demonstrations; (b) during the prescribed hours of polling, not publish or distribute the result of an exit poll taken in that election or referendum; (c) adhere to any media regulations issued by the Commission; and
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(d) abide by the provisions of this Act. 15. (1) The Commission shall set up the Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee which shall comprise of not less than five members of the Commission and shall be chaired by a member appointed by the Chairperson; the Commission may nominate a member of its staff to be the secretary to the Committee. (2) The Chairperson of the committee shall be a person who is qualified to hold the office of Judge of the High Court. (3) Every candidate, official and agent shall (a) acknowledge the authority of the Committee to enforce the provisions of this Code on behalf of the Commission; (b) ensure compliance with summons issued to the party, its candidates or representatives by the Committee; (c) cooperate in the official investigation of issues and allegations arising at election period; and (d) respect and comply with the orders issued by the Committee. (4) The Committee shall issue summons to the person, political party or referendum committee against whom a complaint has been received as having infringed the provisions of this Code and any other person who the Commission has reason to believe to have infringed the provisions of this Code to attend its meetings. The meetings will be convened at any place which the Committee may deem fit. (5) In its proceedings, the Committee may examine the person summoned and may allow a person to have legal representation. (6) The committee shall not be bound by the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code or the Evidence Act in its proceedings.
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(7) Every person who is summoned by Committee and who attends the meetings of Committee shall be accorded the right to be heard.
the the
(8) The Committee shall exercise the powers provided under this Code to punish any person found to have infringed this Code. (9) The Committee shall deliver its verdict expeditiously and inform the parties of the decision. (10) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Code, any complaint submitted in writing alleging any irregularity with any establishment of the electoral process at any stage if not satisfactorily resolved by the peace committee shall be examined and determined by the Committee. 16. Every registered political party committee, candidate and agent shall referendum
(a) ensure security and full participation of women and persons with disabilities as candidates and voters; (b) respect the right of women to communicate freely with political parties, committees and candidates; (c) facilitate the full and equal participation of women in political activities; (d) ensure free access of women and persons with disabilities to all public political meetings, marches, demonstrations, rallies and other public political events; and (e) take reasonable steps to ensure that women are free to engage in any political activity. 17. (1) The Commission may establish peace committees in every constituency during an election and referendum period. (2)Every political party, referendum candidate, official and agent shall committee,
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(a) acknowledge the activity of peace committee established at the constituency level by the Commission; (b) ensure attendance of the peace committee meetings convened at the constituency level on behalf of the Commission; and
(c) cooperate in the official investigation initiated by the peace committee on issues and allegation arising at the election period. (3) The peace committee shall have power to (a) reconcile warring parties; (b) mediate political disputes in the constituencies; (c) liaise with government security agencies in the constituency and report suspected election malpractices; and (d) report any violation of this Code to the Committee for appropriate action. 18. This Code shall take effect from the date of dissolution of parliament until polling day. 19. Any person may complain about the breach of this Code.
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(s. 60(1))
I... I.D./Passport No. ..................................... swear that I will not at this election for the.............................constituency/ county/ ward do anything forbidden under Part VI of the Elections Act which has been read to me. Signature of person taking the oath
Before me