Raila faults drafting of opinion polls Bill
Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Photo/ FILE
By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, May 24 2012 at 22:30
Posted Thursday, May 24 2012 at 22:30
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has criticised the preparation of a Bill on the regulation of opinion polls.
The PM said it was unfair and unconstitutional for the Opinion Polls Bill to be debated in Parliament when pollsters had not been adequately consulted.
The pollsters say they were not involved in the drafting of the legislation, which awaits the Third Reading stage, and are demanding more consultations with Parliament.
The Bill was drafted by Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale.
“I understand this Bill had been taken to Parliament without proper consultation. This is unconstitutional as MPs should have consulted widely before it was brought to the House,” said Mr Odinga on Thursday.
“I however hope it will be robustly debated and passed or rejected on its own merit,” he told a Marketing and Social Research Association (MSRA) meeting in Nairobi.
The Bill compels the publisher to provide more information, including the wording of questionnaires, and sampling methods.
Violating the law will attract a jail term of one year or a fine not exceeding Sh500,000.
Interestingly, the government has drafted another Bill to regulate opinion polls.
Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa recently said he would present the Bill for debate after Cabinet approval.
Mr Odinga said it was important for Kenya to craft regulations that will enable pollsters to remain “credible arbiters in the country’s social, economic and political contestations.”
He said he was against control of polls as long as they were scientific.
He said because there were many quack institutions conducting polls and the desire to score “unmerited” goals, it was important for researchers to be their own regulators.
“This is the only way consumers and the market will take you seriously,” he said.
MSRA chairman Jonathan Karanja urged members to be professional in their work.
“It is expected of us,” he said.
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