Prime
Kenyan parties to mint millions from elections
President of The National Alliance Party Uhuru Kenyatta arrives at the launch of his party in May this year. The party says it will make its nomination fees public next week with modest figures.
What you need to know:
There have been protests over high nomination fees as different parties are yet to review the fees.
Monitor Correspondent
Nairobi
The main political parties stand to make huge amounts of money from nomination fees in the next general election. The Orange Democratic Movement, the United Republican Party and the Wiper Democratic Movement will charge the highest fees, going up to KSh2 million for those seeking the presidential ticket and up to KSh300,000 for those seeking parliamentary seats.
Already the parties are facing a backlash from prospective candidates over the high fees. Contacted on Wednesday, ODM elections board secretary Joseph Misoi, Wiper secretary-general Mutula Kilonzo and URP leader William Ruto separately confirmed that they were all reviewing their respective party nominations fees.
Dr Misoi said the ODM National Executive Council will meet on Tuesday next week to review complaints over the fees, but maintained that the presidential nomination fee of KSh2 million will not be reduced. “We have set our nomination fees, but they will have to be ratified by various party organs.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing by-elections, those seeking parliamentary seats paid only KSh100,000 each,” he said. Mr Kilonzo, who is also the Education minister, said he has received hundreds of protests over the Wiper nomination fees. “I have received complaints through emails, letters and text messages particularly from women and the youth and I have suggested that we meet to discuss this matter,” he said.
Mr Ruto said URP was reviewing its fees in response to protests. “Aspirants have asked the party to reduce the nomination fees. We will most likely reduce the amount,” said Mr Ruto. URP secretariat’s executive director Nixon Korir defended URP’s fees, arguing that ODM charged high rates in the 2007 nomination of KSh130,000 for parliamentary aspirants.
“We have put the nomination fees as an agenda in our meeting next week. Although we will review the fees in favour of the disabled candidates, no other changes are expected,” Mr Korir declared. Candidates representing special interest groups in county assemblies will part with KSh15,000.
In Wiper, the presidential nomination will cost Sh1 million, governor and senator KSh300,000, parliamentary and women’s representatives Sh200,000, while the county assembly representatives will pay Sh10,000.
But TNA’s interim general-secretary, Mr Onyango Oloo, said that the party was working on its nomination fees, which would be made public by next week. “We are developing modest figures that will enable everybody, including women and the youth, to access our tickets,” Mr Oloo said.
Aspirants for the presidency on the URP ticket will pay Sh1 million, while those eyeing the running mate post will pay Sh500,000.
Aspirants for senator and governor will pay Sh200,000, while those running for parliamentary and women’s representatives positions are to be charged Sh100,000. County assembly representatives will pay Sh50,000.
