The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says it plans to introduce new regulations requiring politicians and political parties to declare and account for all contributions and donations they receive from Kenyans during election campaigns.
Speaking during the Stakeholder Engagement on the Draft Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026, on Thursday, July 30, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission expects to finalize its consultations and publish the regulations in the official gazette by August, in line with the set deadline.
Ethekon added that the proposed rules are intended to strengthen transparency, accountability, and fairness in campaign funding ahead of future elections.
“Since we came to office last year, the commission has undertaken a series of consultations with various stakeholders to refine our proposed regulations and spending limits. We hope to complete this process so that we can gazette them to beat the deadline by August this year,” he said.
Candidates to open designated campaign accounts
Under the draft regulations, all candidates and political parties will be required to appoint authorized persons to handle campaign financing and open designated campaign bank accounts through which all campaign funds will be managed.
The IEBC says the dedicated accounts will allow it to track how much money and other resources candidates use during the campaign period and assess whether they comply with the spending limits set under the rules.
The commission also says politicians will need to maintain detailed records of all contributions and donations received from individuals and organizations and submit regular reports to the electoral body.
IEBC cites U.S. model for donation disclosure
Ethekon said the proposal follows practices used in other democracies, including the United States, where political donations are disclosed to promote openness in elections.
“You know, like in the U.S., during elections there are individuals and organisations that contribute resources to various political parties during their campaigns. In the case of Kenya, we will also require candidates and political parties to record and report those donations,” he explained.
The regulations will also set out a framework for monitoring campaign spending, enabling the commission to determine whether candidates or political parties exceed the legally allowed limits.
The IEBC says the proposed contribution and expenditure caps aim to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability, while creating a level playing field for all candidates contesting elections.
Ethekon dismisses reports on live-streaming
During the event, Ethekon also rejected reports alleging that the commission plans to halt the live-streaming of election results.
He assured Kenyans that the IEBC remains committed to transparency and that the media will continue to carry out its oversight role by scrutinizing the electoral process and reporting election results.
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