President Uhuru assents to electoral reform laws

President Uhuru Kenyatta assented to the Election Laws (Amendment) and Elections Bills Wednesday, September 14 ushering in a broad range of electoral reforms ahead of next year’s elections.

The Election Laws (Amendment) Act and Election Offenses Bills were passed by the National Assembly and Senate following protracted debate over the several contentious issues chiefly the proposal to tame party hoppers.

Members of parliament were at first hesitant to pass the Bills with the proposal barring party hopping that had been recommended by the Joint Select Committee on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

However, following sustained pressure from both Cord and Jubilee leaders MPs caved in and passed the Bills without changes.

The new Act introduces a wide range of electoral reforms including a new framework for the recruitment of IEBC commissioners, while laying the platform for the orderly exit of the current office holders.

On Wednesday, President Kenyatta noted with pleasure that the new law is the product of constructive and comprehensive public participation as well as a commendable exercise of bi-partisanship in both Houses of Parliament.

Mr Kenyatta said he hoped that the same bipartisanship would continue throughout all Parliamentary business, especially on important national matters.

The Head of State also signed into law The Kenya Regiment (Territorial force) (Repeal) Bill 2015, the Water Bill 2014, Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the National Government Constituency Development Fund (Amendment) Bill 2016.