Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Mutula: Parliament mandated to announce election date




Written By:Carol Kamau,    Posted: Mon, Jan 16, 2012
Mutula said the safest route is to have the constitution amended to pave way for elections to be held in December this year
Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo has now opened a new front on the election date saying neither the president nor the prime minister have the discretion of announcing the election date.
He said the responsibility lies squarely on parliament.
Mutula said the safest route is to have the constitution amended to pave way for the election to be conducted in December this year.
This is in relation to the proposal of a bill currently before parliament and which Kenyans have until the end of next month to interrogate.
While addressing a public servants forum, Mutula said neither the court nor the principals can solve the riddle and the ball squally lies with legislature to amend the constitution and give Kenyans an election date.
Mutula  said the constitution was explicit and not starved of facts when it proposed an August date thus for any duly elections to be held, an amendment is necessary a task he said will not be smooth waters given the safeguard placed on the new law.
Last Friday's ruling by judge Issac Lenaola opened the Pandora's box on when actually Kenyans should go to the polls.
There have been divergent views from all corners some praising the ruling while other castigating the court for fence seating and failing to take a firm stand to rest the controversy surrounding the election date.
The minister has already tabled a bill in parliament to emend the constitution to have elections held in December as opposed to August this year.
Kenyans have until the end of next month to interrogate the bill before debate commences in parliament and it will require the backing of 144 MPs to sail through.

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