Politicians in dilemma over ban on donations

By Gilbert Wandera

A law barring sitting and aspiring politicians from conducting fundraisers is already causing tension and even breeding hostility with the voters in Nairobi County.

Despite the ban having come into effect last month, those aspiring for elective posts are still receiving invitations to attend fundraisers for various courses and most of them are having to decline in a move that may likely cost them votes when elections are held.

Five crates of soda

School prize giving days form the majority of invites the politicians are turning down. Recently the Makadara Constituency Prize giving day held at Baraka Primary School in Buru Buru, which brought together 28 schools was snubbed by politicians.

According to the host school’s headmistress Celine Omondi, all the politicians who were invited declined to attend or to donate anything save for the area councilor who sent five crates of sodas.

“We invited all those who are aspiring for the governorship position, MPs and even councilors but none of them turned up and we later realised it was because of the new law that bars them from attending such functions. We wish we had held the function before the new law came into effect,” she said.

Among those who were invited but skipped the event are aspiring governors Evans Kidero and  Philip Kisia, Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa and area MP Gideon Mbuvi.

Mrs Omondi says last year, they did not have a problem with the politicians as most turned up for the event  held at Buru Buru Girls High School.

“Last year most of them graced our occasion and gave out cash donations and even trophies to our top pupils,” she revealed.

But not all schools have been unlucky, the newly established Makongeni High School  received important guests during their prize giving ceremony held just before the law barring Harambees came into effect.

Dr Kidero and Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa were the chief guests during the function and donated cash. Kidero gave out Sh100,000 to pay the school fees of 20 students at the school. He also undertook to pay school fees for all the top students in Form Two, Three and Four.  The Mayor on the other hand donated Sh100,000 and also gave out Sh50,000 each to the school’s music and handball team’s for qualifying for the nationals.

Medical cases

Peter Bunyasi, the Principal of Makongeni Secondary School, says, “We need every help we can get to assist children from poor backgrounds get quality education. This new law may affect such help especially from politicians,” he says.

Some politicians are unhappy with the new law which they say is making them appear mean and lose popularity among voters.

Embakassi MP Ferdinand Waititu admitted that he has been forced to keep off from invitations to fundraisers which continue to come on his desk.

“Some people have even told us  to ask the law to vote for us if we insist on obeying it,” he added.

Waititu says he does not support the new law insisting that education and medical needs should have been exempted.

The Elections Act 2011 prohibits anyone aspiring for political office from participating in a fundraising eight months before the election.

This applies to all levels of office from president, governor, senator, MP, women representative to councillor.

Clause 26 (1) of the Act provides that: