The Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) has issued new rules for losers in the ongoing party primaries that may bar them from appealing to the party Dispute Tribunals or joining another political outfit.
The politicians have two weeks to resign from their parties after the nominations deadline of April 26 and vie as Independent candidates.
"If one resigns from his or her party and writes to us, then the law on party hopping does not affect them after April 26. All they can do is write to us and provide their symbols on or before the 8th of May," explained the RPP Lucy Ndung'u.
The timelines also mean that the candidates who wish to explore the provisions for appealing the results within their parties and the larger political parties tribunal risk missing out on this window as the appeals will be heard towards the end of May.
Ms Ndung'u also added that a February ruling by the High Court allowing politicians to defect from their parties and join new ones would not be valid.
"The orders were vacated during the inter-party hearing meaning that the 120-day-window period now stands," she told reporters yesterday.
Top Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) politicians affected by the new rules include Funyula Member of Parliament Paul Otuoma who is eyeing the Busia Governor seat and West Mugirango MP James Gesami who lost the gubernatorial bid for Kisii County to incumbent John Nyagarama.
