Big Two advised to pick 2013 poll date

• Justice minister says Kenya is not ready yet for elections in December this year

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo has appealed to the President and the Prime Minister to consider settling on a March 2013 General Election date.
The minister urged the two principals to “exercise caution” as they consider the discretion given to them by the High Court last week to dissolve the coalition government and call for December elections.

The minister said an “arbitrary” early dissolution of the coalition government would have serious political ramifications that could jeopardise his ministry’s desire to ensure a free and fair election.

“We did not draft an accord where the two principals can sit and agree to dissolve the coalition,” Mr Kilonzo told journalists on Wednesday. He asked President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to let the coalition run its course to ensure continued and timely constitutional implementation.

Mr Kilonzo further argued that it would be inconsiderate of the principals to call for elections before the country had settled all those displaced by post-election violence, as called for under Agenda Two of the National Accord.

“How do you go to elections when citizens are still sitting in camps and yet Agenda Two required the resettlement of IDPs?” the justice minister asked.

In addition, Mr Kilonzo noted that the country has not achieved political reforms as envisaged in Agenda Three of the Accord.

The Justice minister said the landmark ruling by the High Court proposing a 2013 date had given the country and the principals a chance to ensure an above-the-board election.

“That is a window that the country should explore. Trust me, we are not ready,” Mr Kilonzo said.

The minister said that in future the Constitution would need to be amended to clarify the election date.

“The solution to this question will be to amend the Constitution and offer Kenya and other parliaments certainty,” he said.