IEBC boss clashes with Karua over election date

By Steve Mkawale

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Isaack Hassan clashed with Narc-Kenya Leader Martha Karua over the March 4, 2013 Election Date.

The dispute over the date that had threatened to tear the country apart seems to be far from over after the two differed sharply at a forum in Nairobi with the Gichugu MP maintaining that the date was a violation of the constitution.

Hassan told off Karua over her stand that the Executive, IEBC and the Judiciary had violated the constitution saying anyone dissatisfied with the March 2013 date should move to court and seek to overturn it.

Narc-Kenya Leader Martha Karua maintains that March 4, 2013 Election Date is a violation of the constitution. [Photo: File/Standard]

" IEBC was only implementing what the court had ruled on and those against the date can move to court," Hassan said.

Karua and other political players like Prime Minister Raila Odinga have been pushing for a December 2012 date, which they say is constitutionally right.

The two have argued that by pushing the election to March 4, 2013, it would be extending the life of the country parliament and President Kibaki’s term in office by an extra one year.

However, Hassan said the election date would be gazatted as March 2013.

Karua had earlier in her address tore on the Executive, the judiciary and IEBC accusing the institutions of taking Kenyans for a ride.

"They have violated the constitution and taken us to the sixth year election period. The electoral period is very well stated in the constitution –must be within the five year.

"The constitution cannot be a living document unless we breathe live in it," said Karua, who has declared her intention to contest for the presidency in the upcoming General Election.