Resolve electoral laws impasse amicably

Despite pleas from a cross-section of Kenyans not to sign the contentious Elections Laws (Amendment) Bill 2016, President Kenyatta went ahead and signed it into law; effectively giving the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) carte blanche to put in place a complementary mechanism for the identification of voters and the transmission of election results.

After the National Assembly, in a one-sided move, passed the contentious Bill, it was left to the Senate to seal the fate of the Bill. The acrimonious scenes and intimidation earlier witnessed in Parliament did not cloud the debate in the senate on the second day. Nevertheless, there were heated moments that compelled Speaker Ekwee Ethuro to stamp his authority.