KHRC crafts tough rules for hopefuls in elections

KENYA Human Rights Commission has recommended tough rules for elective posts in the upcoming elections must meet. The requirements launched yesterday witnessed by Law Society of Kenya, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials, a host of diplomatic representatives and lobby groups, KHRC said will assist have credible leaders vying for electives ons.

“For us, integrity will not only deal with criminal matters, but as well will touch on moral and ethical matters touching on aspirants which we will document and defend it in courts so as these persons can be declared as unsuitable for running or occupying any public office, unless their clear their names with the relevant authorities,” Atsango Chesoni, KHRC executive director said.

Without ranking those angling for political office, the ten 'must meet' requirements enumerates; tax compliance certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority as the first condition, followed by a certificate from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to provide a clearance that those seeking elective office have not participated in any fraud in the past and are not under any investigations for both present and past scandals.

Apart from certificate of Good Conduct from the CID, aspirants have as well to get clearance letter from the Chief registrar of the Judiciary to ascertain whether there is any ongoing criminal or civil case and the nature of the cases against them. “For example we should know whether the aspirant has any civil or criminal case involving some dishonest to disclose interest to a private company or has simply stolen from it respectively,” KHRC Davis Malombe said.

Candidates are also to get clearance from the Credit Reference Bureau Africa Limited to give detail on their financial delinquencies that will see politicians who have been issuing bouncing cheques barred from vying. Higher Education Loans board, certificate from relevant/respective professional associations, National Intelligence Service and a joint letter from three public bodies (Commission for Administrative Justice, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and National Commission on Gender) indicating the 'public and human rights metre' of aspirants are just some of the tough conditions those angling to plunge in politics must meet.

Interestingly clearance should be send the applicants to psychologists under the Kenya Counseling Association to get a mental check-up, for purposes of knowing if the aspirants suffers from any of the stress disorders, and mental imbalance. “Indeed there are instances where we have seen so-called leaders flip flop that is not explainable and not related to a normal human person. Just watch TV news or programs such as Heka Heka, Bulls Eye or News Shot, which are evident of some pre-existing mental problems with some of our leaders. Remember mental infirmity or incapacity is a ground for removal from leadership and lack of it should be a ground for denial candidacy,” Atsango said.

Collins Odhiambo from LSK said the move will help raise the bar to help get credible leaders in the spirit of upholding the sanctity of the constitution. “Elections is a process of massive recruitment of individuals to public office, therefore the public vetting yardstick that is being applied on judicial officers should not be any different. Everyone should volunteer credible information against those aspiring for political office so as we can build ground to go to court to declare these persons unfit to run,” he said.