ODM MP wants 2017 elections date moved

Uriri Member of Parliament, Eng John Kobado, has expressed doubt over the country’s ability to hold a free and fair General Election on August 8, 2017.

Speaking on Monday, September 26, Kobado said that he had done an analysis of the timelines required to hold credible elections saying the set time is too short to put all the structures in place.

“Jubilee is delaying with the appointment of commissioners as a deliberate attempt to lag the implementation of electoral reforms in order to get a chance to rig the elections in its favour,” he said.

“According to my estimations, if this country is looking to have a free and fair election, then the earliest that the polls can be held is November 2017.”

He further accused Jubilee of insincerity in the handling of their political affairs saying there is no difference between Jubilee Coalition and the newly launched Jubilee Party.

“There is nothing new with Jubilee Party; it is just the same as the now defunct Jubilee Coalition. The party is like a chameleon that changes colour but not its skin,” he said.

Confusion looms over the fate of the electoral commission ahead of the next polls, with no signs of a new commission in place just three days to set exit date of the current commissioners.

The commissioners, whose term was to expire after next year’s General Election, had given conditions for their exit from office including immunity from prosecution and payment of sendoff package including their salaries of their remaining term.

IEBC chair, Ahmed Issack Hassan, on Monday said that they had not received any communication from the government regarding their sendoff package saying they are ready and willing to leave once an agreement has been reached.

National Treasury and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) have traded blame for the stalled process with each pointing at lack of cooperation from the other.

SRC Vice Chair, Daniel Ogutu, blamed National Treasury for the delay saying that as a commission, they are ready to effect the package once they receive communication from the Treasury.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Henry Rotich, has, however, accused IEBC commissioners of lagging the process by failing to present a severance package proposal to the Ministry for consideration.

CORD leader Raila Odinga has insisted that the current commissioners should leave office by September 30 as was agreed by the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee (JPSC).

He claimed that there are plans by Jubilee government to delay the process saying any further extension of the current term will not be tolerated.

CORD had held demonstration to push for the removal of the commissioners accusing them of corruption and planning to rig the 2017 elections in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta, allegations that the commission chair has vehemently denied.

The month-long demonstrations were suspended after CORD leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed on the formation of a joint parliamentary select committee to kick-start the constitution of a new panel that would select new commissioners to oversee the 2017 General Election.

@benjaminwafula