KANU backs CORD in rejecting change to electoral law

Leaders from the independent party, Kenya National African Union (KANU), have added weight to the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) condemnation of the Jubilee administration attempts to amend the Election Law (Amendments) Act, 2016, to re-introduce manual voting system in case the electronic system fails.

West Pokot Senator, Prof John Lunyang’apuo, and former Information and Communication Minister, Samuel Poghisio, termed the manual voting system as archaic and should not be entertained in modern Kenya.

The two KANU leaders, speaking in Paraywa, West Pokot, said that the Jubilee government is keen to review the law to enable it rig the 2017 elections in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term.

“Election is something very critical. It is not a joke and we don’t want a cat and mouse game by bringing the manual process when BVR kits fail,” said Poghisio, adding that the government can deliberately fail the electronic system to get a way of rigging the elections using the manual method.

They said that Jubilee has not brought forward any justifiable reason to change the law.

Poghisio urged Members of Parliament to stand firm on protecting the integrity of the elections and refuse to be comprised by the Jubilee leaders.

“The MPs should be careful and mind about elections and there should be no doubt that elections will be rigged. No one should play with elections,” said Poghisio.

The former Cabinet Minister insisted that election results should be electronically transmitted directly from the polling stations to the national tallying centre.

Senator Lunyang’apuo sensationally claimed that Jubilee used the manual voting system to steal the Kericho senatorial by-election from KANU’s candidate.

Lunyang’apuo said that the Jubilee government has failed Kenyans on the promises it made during the 2013 elections.

He called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to lead in assuring free, fair and trans parent 2017 polls.

Writing by Moses Ngugi