•Kisumu county IEBC election manager Patrick Odame said zoning of regions is an offence that should not be tolerated.
• He said political parties should move freely across the country without zoning.
Image: FREDRICK OMONDI
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official in Kisumu has cautioned political parties against zoning of regions politically terming it as illegal.
Kisumu county IEBC election manager Patrick Odame said zoning of regions is an offence that should not be tolerated.
Odame, who spoke in Kisumu on Thursday during a sensitisation forum organised by the office of the registrar of political parties, said political parties should move freely across the country without zoning.
“The political parties should be allowed to traverse the country and popularize their policies to the electorate. There should be no form of intimidation, harassment and restrictions,” he said.
Odame noted that the Constitution gives Kenyans a right to crisscross the country to campaign without any restriction.
Despite some political parties having strongholds, Odame said that should not be used to intimidate or block members of other political parties to sell their policies to Kenyans.
At the same time, he warned political opponents against defacing campaign materials of their competitors before and during campaigns and elections.
“It is a criminal offence for one to destroy election campaign materials such as posters and banners of their rivals. That is an election offence,” Odame said.
He appealed to politicians to engage and conduct peaceful campaigns as Kenya heads to the general elections on August 9. Odame also urged parties to conduct peaceful nominations, which is scheduled for April 17-26.
In Kisumu County, Odame said there are 1,027 polling stations noting that they are currently uploading the voters' register.
Odame told aspirants to ensure they are well conversant with the political parties’ amendment Act. He told the aspirants that the degree requirement for members of the county assembly has been scrapped.
He, however, said that the issue of Members of Parliament was still in court.
Odame noted that aspirants for various positions in the country must be Kenyans and not hold dual citizenship.
“You should be registered voters and should not have been sentenced six months prior to the elections,” Odame added.
An official from the office of the registrar of political parties Dr S.K Kamau advised the aspirants to develop networks and partnerships, saying they should not forget about voters once elected into office.
“Some of you people will be driving big cars with tinted windows after being elected to office. You should remember that you’re elected in that office for service delivery to citizens,” he said.
During the workshop, the aspirants were also taken through election budgets and managing election outcomes