Better Election Process in Kenya

Better Election Process in Kenya

Disqualification of Corrupt Candidates

To ensure integrity in the electoral process, any individual with an ongoing corruption case should be barred from running for public office until they are legally cleared by the courts. This measure prevents those implicated in corrupt activities from holding positions of power and ensures that only candidates with clean records can vie for leadership positions. Both independent bodies and government institutions should rigorously vet candidates through thorough background checks and audits to confirm their eligibility.

Agenda-Based Campaigns

Campaigns should focus on ideas, manifestos, and solutions rather than relying on money and populism to attract votes. This can be achieved by:

• Interactive Platforms: Candidates should engage with the public through platforms like Twitter spaces, local channels, and community forums. These platforms allow voters to directly question candidates about their manifestos and policies, promoting transparency and accountability.

• Manifesto Scrutiny Portal: Establish a centralized online portal where politicians are required to upload their detailed manifestos, goals, ideologies, and principles six months before the election. This portal should be accessible to the public and allow for comprehensive scrutiny and debate.

• Wealth Declaration: Require politicians to declare their wealth, which should be verified by both government and independent bodies. This measure ensures transparency and helps prevent conflicts of interest.

Detailed Implementation

Corruption Disqualification

Politicians facing corruption charges must be excluded from running for office until they are legally acquitted. Both independent and government bodies should rigorously vet candidates to ensure their integrity. This can involve:

• Comprehensive background checks
• Public disclosure of any ongoing or past legal issues
• Independent audits to verify the absence of corruption charges

Manifesto Scrutiny Portal

Establish a centralized portal where politicians must upload their manifestos, goals, ideologies, and principles six months before elections. These documents should undergo thorough scrutiny, especially for gubernatorial and presidential candidates. The portal should:

• Allow public access for transparency
• Enable citizens and watchdog organizations to scrutinize and debate the manifestos
• Ensure candidates provide detailed plans and explanations for their proposed policies

Wealth Declaration

Require comprehensive wealth declarations from politicians, verified by both government and independent bodies. This measure ensures transparency and helps prevent conflicts of interest or illicit financial activities. The process should include:

• Cross-verification of declared assets against tax records and other financial disclosures
• Public access to wealth declarations to maintain transparency
• Legal consequences for false declarations or undisclosed assets

Interactive Campaigning

Encourage candidates to engage regularly with the public through platforms like Twitter spaces, where voters can question them directly on their manifestos and policies. This fosters transparency and accountability in electoral promises. Key steps include:

• Organizing regular online and offline forums for public interaction
• Ensuring candidates participate in these sessions to discuss their policies
• Promoting transparency by recording and publishing these interactions

Campaign Budget Enforcement

Implement strict regulations on campaign budgets to prevent excessive spending. Candidates must disclose their campaign financiers to the public, and any violation of budget limits should lead to legal action by bodies like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This can be achieved by:

• Setting clear budget limits for campaign spending
• Requiring public disclosure of all campaign financiers
• Enforcing legal consequences for violations of budget limits

Manifesto Detailing

Require candidates to present manifestos akin to research papers, backed by data and figures, outlining how they plan to address key issues such as unemployment, food security, and cost of living. This approach ensures practical solutions are proposed and can include:

• Detailed plans with specific data and figures
• Clear timelines and budgetary requirements
• Regular public scrutiny and debates to verify the feasibility of proposals

Debates and Fact-Checking

Mandate regular debates among candidates as a prerequisite for running for office. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should enforce this requirement, holding candidates accountable for participating. Independent bodies and journalists should conduct rigorous fact-checking to verify the accuracy of candidates' claims. This process should include:

• Organizing regular televised and public debates
• Ensuring independent fact-checking of candidates' statements
• Holding candidates accountable for participating in debates

Civic Education

Implement comprehensive civic education programs to educate voters on their rights and responsibilities, the importance of clean politics, and how to critically assess candidates' platforms. This empowers voters to make informed decisions based on substance rather than superficial factors. Steps include:

• Integrating civic education into the formal education system
• Conducting community outreach programs targeting all age groups
• Collaborating with media and civil society organizations to promote civic education

By implementing these measures, Kenya can move towards a more transparent, accountable, and issue-focused electoral process. This approach aligns with the principles of good governance and the Kenyan Agenda ideology, ensuring that candidates are judged on their merit and commitment to public service.