Adhere to anti-Harambees law Speaker Ethuro to politicians

Senate Speaker, Ekwe Ethuro, has expressed support for the new elections guideline barring politicians from participating or conducting Harambees eight months preceding the elections.

Ethuro was speaking at a Harambee function at the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) in Mathira, Nyeri County, where he said that the function was his last even as the law barring law makers from such functions takes effect on December 8, 2016.

He noted that canny politicians have been organizing a series of fundraisers a few months to the election in order to hoodwink electorates into voting them.

“There are some leaders who save their money for five years, only to emerge around the elections. They attend every Harambee, splashing the cash and you people forget the ones (leaders) who have stood with you all along,” said Ethuro.

The Senate Speaker praised the new law saying that it would give Kenyans a chance to elect responsible, genuine and dedicated leaders who will help improve peoples’ livelihoods.

Nyeri County Senator, Mutahi Kagwe, who had accompanied the Senate Speaker, said that Harambees are not good for a healthy competition but gives undue advantage to the moneyed persons.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) published the new law on Friday, December 2 giving notice to politicians to keep off Harambees starting December 8, 2016.

A section of elected leaders have expressed opposition to the new law arguing that Harambees have been part of the country’s development story and stopping politicians from participating is counter productive.

West Pokot Senator John Lunyang’apuo condemned the IEBC’s move saying that the spirit of Harambee brings leaders and their subjects together to accomplish otherwise impossible development projects.

Senator Lunyang’apuo was speaking while presiding over a Harambee at Kaptabuk Secondary School in his West Pokot County.