Debate on election date intensifies

Written By:Rose Welimo/sources,    Posted: Sun, Mar 18, 2012

IEBC chair Isaack Hassan announced that the forthcoming general elections will be held on 4th March, 2013 National Civil society (NCSC) wants the two principals President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to dissolve the Grand Coalition Government by 19th October 2012, to enable Kenyans go to elections in December, which is preferred by the majority. Speaking in Nairobi on Sunday, NCSC President Morris Odhiambo said that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) only gave a tentative day for election on Saturday, and not the final date. "Our message to IEBC is that, having given a tentative date as per the mandate given by the contested court ruling, it should now let the court process and other processes that may be initiated to be completed." He added that the court in giving option has put Kenyans in an awkward position, and its decision has played into the politics of the grand coalition government and failed to resolve the issue. Elswehere,  Eldoret North MP William Ruto has echoed similar sentiments saying the president's term ends on 31st December 2012 while  parliament's term ends on 5th January next year and anything beyond that is unconstitutional. Speaking at a political rally in Bungoma town the MP added that the G7 are ready for elections this year and called upon the IEBC not to play around like the former ECK but be ready to work with the constitution. Meanwhile, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi has welcomed the IEBC's decision to have the next general election on 4th March 2013 saying the date is within the law. Speaking in his constituency, Linturi said the current parliament's term ends on 14th January, 2013 which rules out a December date. "The constitution says after the expiry of the current parliament, elections shall be held within 60 days. Polls in March are within the constitution," he said. And Siakago Member of Parliament Lenny Kivuti urged Kenyans to rally behind the decision by the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission to hold elections in March next year. Kivuti said the announcement has cleared the anxiety over the election date and added that he had no doubt the IEBC consulted widely before arriving at the proposed date.