Senators fault plan to open new Kenyan consulates in US

NAIROBI: Senators allied to the Opposition have criticised the Government’s plans to open five consulates in the United States of America to serve as polling centres in the next General Election.

The lawmakers alleged it was a ploy by the Jubilee administration to rig the polls and questioned why Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission denied knowledge of the plan.

Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma) took issue with the the process of opening consulates across the US to facilitate voting by Kenyans in the diaspora in the 2017 General Election.

The senator faulted the House Legal Affairs Committee over a delayed response, stressing that the legislators were eager to interrogate the matter and prevent any attempt to hijack the duty, role and functions of the electoral body by the Executive.

But committee vice-chairman Stephen Sang (Nandi) blamed the Attorney General for the delay, despite the AG giving an undertaking to issue a statement on the matter. However, Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai said opening consulates is in line with Jubilee government’s policy to tap into socio-economic opportunities in US and take advantage of many investment opportunities available in ICT, Agriculture and infrastructure.

He clarified in his statement read by senator Sang that Kenya was not planing to open additional polling centres in US despite the new consulates being created. House Speaker Ekwee Ethuro directed Sang to use the available constitutional options to address the matter.