MPs claim plot by State to push polls date forward

By Peter Opiyo

Four MPs have claimed the government is weaving a conspiracy to push the General Election beyond the March 4, 2013 date.

Addressing a press conference at Parliament buildings, MPs Adan Duale (Dujis), Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda), Adan Keynan (Wajir West) and Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany) asked President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to make their stand on the matter.

They claimed the laxity by which the government was treating the ongoing strikes in the health and education sector and failure to endorse election regulations were part of a scheme to let things go into crisis and occasion a push of the elections date.

Failure by the Executive to bring the Constitutional Implementation Bills to Parliament in time and what they term as lack of commitment to conclude debate on gender rule requirement, they said were indications the State was not prepared for the polls.

   Beating deadlines

On three occasions, Parliament had to extend its sittings to beat Constitutional deadlines of enacting various legislations required to activate the supreme law.

Interestingly, the election regulations are with Parliament and joint committees of Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, Legal Affairs Committee and Committee on Delegated Legislation are scrutinising the rules.

The regulations have provisions regarding voter registration, Diaspora voting, civic education and the general conduct of elections.

“The ongoing teachers’, lectures’ and doctors’ strike, insecurity in parts of the country and the emerging uncertainty on the polls date are matters with serious implications for the future of the country,” said Mr Gumbo.

They want the government to clear the air.

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