A number of politicians seeking seats in the August Elections have been slapped with heavy fines for associating themselves with President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga and Laikipia governorship independent candidate Ndiritu Muriithi were ordered to pay a fine of Sh500,000 each for using Raila and Uhuru’s portraits respectively in their campaign materials.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Code of Conduct Committee stated that the leaders had used symbols and party colours of Odinga and President Uhuru which were contrary to the law.
“By his own admission, the accused has been using National Super Alliance (NASA) colours and symbols as well as portraits of the coalition’s leaders in his posters and billboards.
"It is, therefore, in breach of the code of conduct for the accused to try to associate himself with the coalition,” ruled the committee sitting in Nairobi at KICC.
Akaranga is contesting under his Progressive Party of Kenya which is not a member of NASA.
Kasarani MP John Njoroge, who is defending his seat as an independent candidate after losing in the Jubilee Party primaries, was fined Sh250,000 over symbols and portrait of Uhuru.
Odinga and Uhuru enjoy a large fan base in the country and politicians often associate themselves with the two to get political mileage.
