High Court suspends law on election campaign financing

The High Court has temporarily suspended the implementation of the law requiring politicians to unveil their campaign teams and file bank accounts.

In a brief ruling, Justice Roselyn Aburili allowed the order to remain in force pending the hearing of the case on January 12 by the Orange party opposing the law.

The party is challenging the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) directive asking political parties and candidates for the forthcoming General Elections to file their bank account details and names of their campaign committee members.

"The matter before court raises weighty constitutional issues which needs to be determined urgently," ruled Justice Aburili.

The judge stopped temporarily the implementation of the laws published on December 7, 2016 and directed the case be heard on January 12.

The Raila Odinga-led party says the directive by IEBC is illegal and ought to be quashed.

Through lawyer Anthony Oluoch, ODM is urging the court to prohibit IEBC from implementing the requirement to have campaign committees made known and also accounts for aspirants submitted.