PNU ready for August general election

Written By:Judith Akolo/KNA,    Posted: Fri, Mar 18, 2011

PNU Secretary General Kiraitu Murungi (file/photo)

The Party of National Unity - PNU says it is ready for the general election next year in August as provided for in the constitution.

According to the constitution, Kenya must hold the elections as envisaged on the second Tuesday of August 2012.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, PNU Secretary General Kiraitu Murungi says politicians ought to be ready and willing to run for elections next year in August. 

The party spoke a day after Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution insisted that the next general election will be held in August next year. The commission maintained that the constitution must be respected.

The MPs  further said they will not be drawn into a tug-of-war with any other political inclination over the day set out in the constitution when a general election must be held.

PNU at the same time accused ODM of scuttling every move by the party to realize political harmony in the country and said they will be holding their national delegates conference in 90 days to decide on their future relation with the coalition partner.

At the same time, the party announced that it would not give direct nominations to its candidates in the Kamukunji by-election.

Instead, the party has invited the Interim Independent Elections Commission (IIEC) to oversee the nominations.PNU lost the Kamukunji seat in January this year, after the High Court nullified the election of Simon Mbugua, following a successive petition by Ibrahim Ahmed of ODM.

There has been confusion on when the elections should be held.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo and several legislators have expressed concern that the country might not have all the necessary electoral reforms in place before 2012 August when next elections will be due.

Some MPs have also insisted that they must serve their full five-year term, from December 2007 when they were elected, to December 2012.

Elsewhere, Cabinet minister Njeru Githae differed with CIC and PNU over  2012 general elections date.

Speaking at Kiaragana girls high school, the Nairobi Metropolitan minister said that the transition clause saves  the current Parliament from leaving office before it serves its five year term which will run until December next year.

He said that the transition clause will be in force until next general election when the new constitution will be implemented in totality.

The clause reads: "The National Assembly existing immediately before the effective date shall continue as the National Assembly for the purposes of this Constitution for its unexpired term."

Githae said that the Attorney General (AG) should give his legal opinion and remove any doubts on the exact date of the next general elections.