Kalonzo faults opinion polls

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has said the conduct of opinion polls in Kenya is wanting and urged pollsters to embrace professionalism, integrity and accuracy.

In developed countries, such surveys observe strict guidelines and that is why results are acceptable, the VP noted.

“In this country opinion polling is a subject of serious under hand manipulation which is a cause for worry,” he said during the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation conference at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nairobi Tuesday.

Mr Musyoka said MPs were of the view that the country should have an Act of Parliament to regulate the opinion polls since skewed polling may contribute to post election chaos.

He assured participants that Kenya will not witness a repeat of violence as happened after the 2007 elections, since the Constitution has ensured that the electoral environment will be regulated.

He said the Constitution will not allow candidates who have lost in an election to agitate and incite the population to violence.

"Any candidate who believes that he or she cannot accept electoral defeat must withdraw from the race and allow Kenyans the opportunity to run their affairs peacefully and responsibly,” he said.

The VP said the Constitution will eliminate corruption, tribalism and violence.

Mr Musyoka said the Judiciary has undergone obvious rejuvenation under Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and also pointed to reform commissions including the Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, the Constitutional Implementation Commission and the Commission on Revenue Allocation.

“The Commission for the Administration of Justice, National Police Service Commission and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission are among bodies awaiting their turn for redesigning or reestablishment respectively,” said the Vice President.

Mr Musyoka said these institutions are at the core of rebuilding a new Kenya.

“If these bodies are set up and managed as the Constitution dictates, then we shall leave a meaningful and enduring legacy that future generations will find hard to tarnish. And that must be our intention, our guiding spirit," he said.

He said that the Constitution entrenches very progressive rights and freedoms particularly the right to food and shelter.

The VP said this aspect of the Constitution compels the government to rededicate resources and commitment to improvement of the standards of living of Kenyans and progressively end poverty.

He said the onus to communicate that Kenya is reborn belongs to the leadership.

“We leaders bear the burden of inspiring a sense of confidence among Kenyans in the fact that our rejuvenated country is adequately prepared to reap the full benefits borne by the new Constitution”, noted the Vice President.

Among those present at the KNDR meeting were former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, former Ghanaian President John Kufuor, former South African First Lady Graca Machel and the head of a team that investigated the Kenya’s disputed 2007 elections Johann Kriegler.