A fresh plan has been hatched to delay the general election to 2018. MPs are eager to extend their terms, salaries and perquisites. They also say the country is far from prepared. They cite delayed appointment of electoral commissioners and numerous issues with timelines, procurement, technology and the voter’s register.
This time round, MPs from both Jubilee and Cord are involved, however, it is not clear if they have the blessings of their principals.
Kenya traditionally holds elections every five years.
Although the IEBC has affirmed the general election — presidential, Senate, National Assembly, governor and county assembly polls — will be held on August 8, 2017, some legislators have not abandoned a scheme to push the elections back to 2018.
The MPs argue elected leaders must serve a full five-year term from the time they are sworn in until the House is dissolved.
A previous attempt by MP Ugenya David Ochieng of ODM to amend the Constitution to push elections to December next year failed to get a minimum two-thirds vote. It got 216 votes, 17 less than the required number.
But opposition leader Musalia Mudavadi warned proponents of procrastination that doing so would be disastrous.
“You can see this attempt, which is manifested in court cases among other things, is unacceptable for anyone to imagine they can push elections.
“Anyone entertaining that thought must have sensed defeat long ago,”
According to the latest plan, MPs will introduce a bill seeking delaying the election date to sometime in 2018.
Majority leader Adan Duale yesterday said he was not aware of any bill.
The extension, MPs argue, will allow the IEBC to fully prepare for the polls.
They say because of the delay in picking IEBC commissioners, those selected will need time to understand the situation and prepare for elections.
A panel interviewing prospective commissioners is expected to release the names of nominees by the of this week, and the proposed chairperson
The President then will pick seven commissioners from a short list of nine and pick the chairperson from another two names.