The new dawn in the electoral processes that Kenyans yearned for and which the Kriegler Commission recommended is however, yet to be effectively felt. The IIEC must focus all its attention and energy towards this end. The mistakes that the IIEC made and the negative consequences of some the IIEC’s decisions not withstanding, the IIEC did a commendable job and managed the by-elections in a credible and transparent manner.

The Political Parties Act was enacted to mainstream the management and financing of political parties, enhance democratization and sanity within the political parties sector. Therefore, the by-elections provided an arena to observe the practical application and efficacy of the new Political Parties Act and how the IIEC dealt particularly with defections and party-hopping by candidates.

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