Monday, January 16, 2012

Raila calls for calm over election date ruling



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By NATION CORREPSONDENTS
Posted  Sunday, January 15  2012 at  22:30
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has termed the court ruling on the election date as “legal advice” that should not cause any anxiety in the country.
Mr Odinga said he will discuss with President Mwai Kibaki and agree on the date to avoid keeping the country in suspense.
“The Committee on Coalition Management for both PNU and ODM will sit down and come up with a solution within the perimeter of the arrangement,” said Mr Odinga. (READ: Early polls up to you, judges tell Kibaki and Raila)
Speaking at the burial of Ms Joyce Atieno Okello, who is an elder sister to Kisumu Mayor Samuel Okello at Rachuonyo South district over the weekend, the premier said the ruling was an advice for the coalition government to do what is required by law.
He was accompanied by Cabinet ministers James Orengo (Lands),Otieno Kajwang (Immigration), Anyang Nyongo (Medical Services) and other MPs.
Mr Kajwang asked the PM not to dissolve the coalition saying this would leave room for PNU to rig the up coming elections.
Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo opposed the court ruling saying the term of the current government ends on December 30 this year and should not extend into 2013.
Mr Orengo on the other hand suggested that Parliament should help resolve the issue.
“The legislature should use all legal means at their disposal to ensure elections are held this year as stipulated in the constitution,” said the minister. 
To implement the constitution, the country needs a person who believes in it and is an embodiment of the struggle, Mr Orengo added.
“Somebody like (deputy Prime Minister) Uhuru Kenyatta cannot implement some of the land clauses ,” said Mr Orengo.
Mr Orengo and Mr Nyong’o dismissed other presidential aspirants as political green horns who stand for nothing.
Meanwhile, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa urged the two principals not to abuse their constitutional powers when setting the election date.
Mr Wamalwa said though the courts have given President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga powers to decide when the elections will be held, the ruling should not return Kenya to the days when former president Daniel Moi used the election date as a political weapon.
He said he was disturbed by reports that the date was Mr Odinga’s “secret weapon.”
“Gone are the days when the Executive used Parliament’s dissolution or the election date as a political gimmick,” he said.
Mr Wamalwa called on the President and the PM to be transparent and ensure that the country knows the election date in advance.
This will also give political parties enough time to plan for the polls and conduct nominations. The Saboti MP however welcomed the decision by the court.

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