Monday, January 16, 2012

MPs pressure Raila over election date



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PRIME Minister Raila Odinga was at the weekend under pressure from both PNU and ODM MPs to ensure the next general election is held this year. The MPs who were attending the burial of the Nabongo (King) of the Wanga kingdom William Japheth Rapando at his Emulambo village in Mumias constituency said the mood in the country is for elections to be held this year.
New Ford-Kenya presidential aspirant Eugene Wamalwa, Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale and Planning minister Wycliffe Oparanya said the High Court ruling gave the two principals power to decide when the elections will be held. “The ruling has given you and the President power to decide the dates and you should not keep us guessing. As soon as next week we want you to have a cup of tea and decide on this matter,” Wamalwa said.
He said he is prepared for the polls to be held in August and that waiting until March next year is meaningless. Oparanya said that elections should not be delayed until next year and asked the PM to consult with President Kibaki so the elections are held either in August or December this year.
Khalwale said, “We as MPs who want the new constitution implemented have already networked and want the two principals to sit and agree to dissolve the Government so that we go to the elections this year,” said Khalwale. Khalwale said that the mood in the country is for elections to be held this year because the coalition Government led to imbalance in development. “We see development going to Central Kenya and Nyanza province,” he added.
Kakamega county Knut secretary John Wesonga had told the PM that Kenyans are tired with members of the tenth parliament because they had refused to pay taxes. He said Kenyans want elections this year to get rid of the current MPs and move forward. “As much as you are fit to lead the country, there are some hangers on around you and we shall remove them and give you people you can run this country with,” said Wesonga amid applause.
Lands Minister James Orengo, Mumias MP Ben Washiali, former area MP Wycliffe Osundwa, Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo, Luhya Elders’ Forum Chairman Patrick Wangamati and the Luo Ker Willis Odondi also attended the burial. Raila however steer cleared off the election date when he rose to speak and instead invited Wamalwa, Housing Minister Soita Shitanda and Khalwale, all of New Ford-Kenya to join ODM.
He said that he the attended the funeral of the Nabongo as a wanga and urged those seeking the presidency to shun tribal politics, noting that glorifying tribes would only balkanize the country. “We want our differences to be in policies and not individuals or tribes,” h said adding that ODM stands for change.
Raila said that ODM is working toward a straight win at the next polls to form the next Government adding that coalition Government is weaker than a one party one because parties in a coalition do not fully implement the policies they sell during campaigns. On Friday the High Court gave two options on when the polls could be held.
The ruling ultimately left the decision as to when the next polls would be held on the two principals indicating the polls could be held any time the two principals agreed to end the life of the coalition Government in writing or after the expiry of the current parliament in December, placing it in March 2013.
Political analysts have said the court ruling by Justices Isaac Lenaola, Mumbi Ngugi and David Majanja handed the PM, a presidential candidate a secret card to decide the date of elections after the new constitution removed the power to decide the polls date from the executive.

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