The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Ahmed Isaack Hassan.Photo/FILE
By SUNDAY NATION TEAM
Posted Saturday, March 17 2012 at 22:30
Posted Saturday, March 17 2012 at 22:30
The move by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to set March 4, 2013 as the General Election date drew varied reactions.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) endorsed the IEBC’s call, blaming the two principals for failing to agree on a date.
“IEBC had no option but to name the election date,” said LSK chairman Eric Mutua, adding that people had made a decision during a referendum for the Constitution that the elections date had to be clear and predictable.
Fisheries Development Minister Amason Kingi and Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) chairman Benedict Gunda threw their weight behind the March 4 date.
The two key ODM pointmen said the IEBC decision was within the law and it would be imprudent for the PM, who had announced he preferred a December 2012 election, to oppose it.
Tourism minister Najib Balala also supported the commission on the date, saying issues such as electoral boundaries and compliance with the Political Parties Act were yet to be dealt with.
However, leading opposition to the proposed date, Narc-Kenya presidential aspirant Martha Karua criticised the principals who, she claimed, wanted to illegally extend their terms in office and effectively reduce the term of the next government given that the Constitution dictates that elections should be held every five years.
“If the elections are held next year in March and we have a run-off, which will be done in June, then it will be a year’s extension for this regime,” she said yesterday in Nairobi. “It would be unconstitutional and through the back door.”
Moments after the announcement was made, the legislator posted a comment on a social networking site, Twitter, saying: “Announcing a March poll when the appeal against election ruling is a few days away is a move to influence the outcome of the appeal.” She went on: “The IEBC has let us down.”
Later when addressing journalists, she said hope lies in the Court of Appeal.
“This decision is not cast in stone. Kenyans should stand up and be heard; we saw this happen when there was an issue regarding the appointment of the Chief Justice,” Ms Karua said.
Civil society groups criticised the decision. Mr Mohammed Hamisi of Agenda Yetu Initiative said the group was disappointed with the date and will push for elections to be held at a time comfortable with the majority.
“We have rejected the date selected by Mr Isaack Hassan and will take the matter to the Supreme Court if need be until the needs of the people are addressed,” said Mr Hamisi.
But Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru supported the IEBC decision, saying it will give the country enough time to prepare for the elections and enable Parliament to clear pending work.
PNU organising secretary Maina Kamanda said his party had not taken a position, adding what was important was to hold credible elections.
The former MP said it was important that the country needs to hold credible elections.
“I will be running and I would want to be elected in credible elections that are held in a fair manner. There is no need to rush and then we have a chaotic election,” Mr Kamanda said.
Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia said that the IEBC had done well by announcing the date adding that this would help deal with the anxiety that had gripped the country.
PNU spokesman Moses Kuria however differed and said that Kenyans are tired of the current government adding that the country should petition the two principals to dissolve the coalition.
He added that MPs allied to PNU and G7 alliance were ready for an early election.
He added that MPs allied to PNU and G7 alliance were ready for an early election.
He however said that a March election would interfere with the country’s most of the productive activities that take place in the first quarter of the year.
And in South Nyanza, a cross-section of teachers and parents opposed the March 4, 2013 poll date saying it would interfere with the learning programmes in the country.
They urged the IEBC to either hold the elections during the December holidays as has been the practice, or push it to April holidays.
Also, they accused IEBC of “illegally extending the term of MPs’ in office, majority of who were liabilities to their electorate”. (READ: IEBC declares it will set next elections date)
By LILLIAN ONYANGO, PHILIP MUYANGA, ELISHA OTIENO, DANIEL NYASSY, MWAKERA MWAJEFA and REBECCA OKWANY.
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