If the IEBC strictly enforces the new regulations on election spending, President Uhuru Kenyatta and other presidential aspirants will spend a maximum of Sh5.2 Billion in their campaigns ahead of the 2017 General Election.
The regulations contained in the Election Campaign Financing Act will be the first law in Kenya to compel parties and candidates to fully disclose their poll funding sources in the run-up to the elections.
According to the breakdown of presidential campaign spending limits, contenders can only spend up to Sh869 Million on advertising and media. The amount is reportedly almost the same for transportation.
The Presidential aspirants will further be required to spend a maximum of Sh173 Million on campaign agents, Sh144 Million on administration and Sh625 million on expenses such as pollsters.
Nonetheless, in a political system where politicians are known to spend huge in the electioneering period, political pundits maintain that the ability by IEBC to enforce these guidelines will be the big issue.
In the 2013 elections, Kenyatta and his fiercest rival Raila Odinga, are said to have spent between Sh10-20 Billion each.
The regulations which are set to be gazetted on Friday will also affect those seeking the Gubernatorial, Senatorial, Parliamentary and County Assembly seats.
The spending limits were reportedly set by considering the population of an electoral area, geographical size and other factors.
The regulations were unveiled by the IEBC in a bid to create a level playing field, eliminate voter bribery, curb misuse of public resources and also ensure that parties and candidates do not finance their campaigns using funds from illegal sources.
According to the regulations, candidates, their agent and a party campaign finance committee will be required to open a campaign financing account and submit the details to IEBC. The poll body will then monitor how money is moving in and out of the accounts.