MPs want polls laws amended to avert chaos

By Renson Buluma

MPs allied to United Democratic Forum (UDF) are pushing for amendment of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Act.

The legislators are proposing an amendment that will empower the commission’s chairman to prevent two centres of power pitting his office and that of chief executive officer.

Speaking in Busia town at the weekend, MPs Boni Khalwale and George Nyamweya stated that the Act should be amended to avoid power battles within the commission.

They said the recent confusion that marred the commission over the awarding of the tender for voter registration pitting chairman Issack Hassan and CEO John Oswago was a precursor of the dangers that could occur if the Act was not amended.

“We are going to amend the electoral laws to make sure that there are no two centres of power within IEBC. We want the person to declare the winner of an election to be Hassan,” said Khalwale.

He added: “We don’t want a situation where after Hassan has declared the winner of the election, Oswago again comes up with another winner. This could plunge the country into anarchy.”

Nyamweya reiterated the need for IEBC to fast track its activities and start voter registration for people to be ready for the March 2013 elections.

He said time was running out for the Hassan-led team, which he noted had less than five months to prepare for polls.

“IEBC must wake up or else they are going to put this country into problems,” said Nyamweya.

  Requisite laws

He added: “Parliament is willing to help the electoral commission by putting in place necessary legislations to put the country ready for free and fair elections.”

He further noted failings of the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya were the root cause of chaos that rocked the country in 2007.

Nyamweya urged the commission to invite all the stakeholders including Office of the President, security organs, political party officials, and other groups involved in matters of election for a summit meeting to resolve pending issues that could impede free and fair elections.

The leaders called on the government to move fast and appoint the police inspector general and end the confusion that has left the police and the provincial administration in suspense. They argued that this will stop the rising cases of insecurity in the country that has seen people killed.


 

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