Do not assent to amended electoral laws, COTU urges President Uhuru

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) has protested the move by the National Assembly to pass the amendments touching on the Electoral Laws.

Union's Secretary General Francis Atwoli has appealed to the President not to assent to the Law, reinstating provisions for manual identification of voters in case the electronic system fails.

"The amendments risk leaving the House divided hardly eight months to the elections," he said in press statement sent to newsrooms.

Atwoli expressed concerns that some individuals in government have allowed power to get into their heads and use the National Assembly to pass archaic legislations when it is in the interest of the nation that in case of such hostilities, the best parliament should do is to encourage dialogue and consultations.

"Imposition of any legislation to the electorate is a dangerous and scary trend because it only helps in negating our resolve to transparency and accountability," he said.

"It is already evident that the law passed will create unprecedented chaos in this country and scare away investors," Atwoli said.

Atwoli warned that passing of the amendment laws would put the country backward in the realization of credible and transparent elections.

"COTU is alive to the fact that should any violence erupt after the General Elections, the recipients will be workers, women and children with the political class staying safe in their comforts and it is against this background that COTU wouldn't anticipate witnessing any such repeat of the 2007/2008 incidences that were brought to Kenyans after an election," he noted.

The move comes barely a day after MPs acrimoniously passed proposed amendments Laws proposed by the Legal Affairs Committee.

The House also adopted a proposal for manual transmission of results, which the Orange party had opposed.